The three Hot Wheels Legends™ Tour France finalists to compete at the Centenary
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The three Hot Wheels Legends™ Tour France finalists to compete at the Centenary

The final of the Hot Wheels Legends™ Tour France will unfold during the 24 Hours Centenary on 10-11 June, with the three finalists selected from 200 candidates.

The Hot Wheels™ Legends Tour organisers sifted through 200 candidates from all over France. The jury – composed of Automobile Club de l’Ouest members and Etienne Moustache (content creator and ambassador for this first running as well as for Mattel teams) – met to choose three exceptional cars that will be on display during the 24 Hours Centenary.

Finalists were selected based on the following criteria: authenticity, creativity and degree of vehicle personalisation...all elements that best represent the spirit of Hot Wheels™.

The winner of the French running will qualify for the international final at the end of the world 2023 Hot Wheels™ Legends Tour. Finalists from different countries will compete in the hope of winning the ultimate prize: to see their car transformed into a real Hot Wheels™ miniature and join the famous Garage of Legends collection.

The jury will convene at Le Mans. Hot Wheels™ designer Craig Callum will also have a say in the winner of the French leg of the competition. The identity of the big winner will be revealed on Friday 9 June at 17:00 alongside the jury members and ambassador Etienne Moustache.

Here is more about the three Hot Wheels™ Legends Tour France finalists:

The retro-futuristic Mercedes "Soxle"

This one of a kind vehicle modified from an old Mercedes amounts to a family project started 25 years ago. School teacher Guillaume Mennesson (age 43) created this custom car called "Soxle" in tribute to his great-great-grandfather. Built from his own sketches, this Mercedes with clean lines and retro-futuristic features boasts extraordinary bodywork.

Its mysterious look has been compared to a superhero car with curves inspired by Haute Couture and the emotion evoked by fan-favourite French car bodies. Finalist Guillaume Mennesson: "It was the emotion caused by the extraordinary nature of my vehicle that pushed me to participate in the Hot Wheels™ Legends Tour France. As children, we all had a small car that seemed exceptional or surreal to us and that we loved to play with. This 1:1 scale car is the Hot Wheels™ car I wish I had!"

The flamboyant Renault 4L Hot Rod

This entirely artisanal Hot Rod is the concretisation of a project between friends dating from a dozen years ago. Intended for a first life in stock car competitions, the Renault 4L was then fully restored in 2020 by Sébastien (age 28) and his father Joël, both mechanics.

The transformation was fully customised and European-based from the paint to the engine. Parts were handcrafted and range from its Ford 2.3-litre V6 engine to the tank in the trunk and the roof which was lowered and lengthened.

Finalist Sébastien Lickel: "This car represents know-how contributions from a whole group of friends." A lifelong car enthusiast, Hot Wheels™ cars were a major part of his childhood. "It may have been Hot Wheels™ indirectly that inspired our car project 13 years ago."

The sensational Bellytank "Golgoth I"

The Bellytank "Golgoth I" is a vehicle made in the line of post-war Lakesters and Bellytanks, historically designed for beach racing, more precisely for the Normandy Beach Race for this candidate. Car enthusiast and architect Thibault Lagardère (age 43) worked on cars in his garage as a hobby. He chose his favourite, the "Golgotha I", to participate in the Hot Wheels™ Legends Tour France.

Reminiscent of an American racing car, it was made from an airplane fuel tank and parts of a French vehicle from the 1930s. Lagardère began the construction in 2021 and completed work in just one year with a flathead V8 engine with free exhaust.

Finalist Thibault Lagardère: "From the ground up, the car is a true return to the basics of mechanics. As a simple collector, I am very proud to be in the final of this great adventure alongside the two other French candidates. I must say, having a miniature of your own vehicle is not far from the Holy Grail for a collector!"

A Hot Wheels™ x 24 Hours of Le Mans limited edition of miniatures

For the first French running of the Hot Wheels™ Legends Tour, Hot Wheels™ and the 24 Hours of Le Mans are collaborating on an exclusive offer: a limited edition white Ford GT with the 24 Hours of Le Mans logo representing one of the most iconic cars in the history of the race!

From 3 years old and over – model sold subject to availability at a price of €11.99 in official 24 Hours of Le Mans shops and stores or online sites participating in the offer.

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