The hottest Christmas gift for any car lover?

How about the excitement of Formula 1 in your sitting room? Or maybe the dining room? Or, of course, if you’re posh, the orangery?

OK, enough about house design and more about Hot Wheels, which The Special’s guv’nor has been collecting since those red-line-tyred, iridescent models first arrived on these shores.

Our interest in Formula 1 was re-kindled thanks to just about our favourite automotive publication The Road Rat, whose latest issue, ‘A Love Letter to Formula 1’ takes a thoroughly considered look at this global incarnation of motor sport.

Hot Wheels has an enduring appeal and with each year new models keeps the offering fresh. And so does its Grand Prix Race Circuit, which, it’s suggested, could be one of the most in-demand Christmas gifts this year. Said to be ‘the ultimate in die-cast racing’ a two-speed three-lane booster keeps the pace rapid, while lane diverters and a 2-into-1 overtake wall ups the ante all the more. And let’s not forget the lap counter that counts up to 25 trips around the track.

And you can have a car loyalty as the circuit comes with three cars in Oracle Red Bull Racing, MoneyGram Haas F1® Team and Williams Racing liveries.

Priced at £79.99, it’s surely one car-orientated gift that’ll keep on giving.