Minichamps McLaren MP 4/13 1:18 die cast model F1 Mika Hakkinen Rare Team WEST edition. Rare and collectors must have. BOXED

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Pauls Auto Art (minichamp) 1:18th scale model of the McLaren Mercedes MP4/13 driven by Mika Hakkinen in  1998 F1 Championship showing  car #8 and very rare WEST (cigarette) sponsorship. Mika drove this car complete with wet tyres in Monza that season and went on to become F1 Champion 1998 and repeated this in 1999 driving the updated but very similar car with the #1 logo.

What makes this model rare and collectable is the fact its carrying the West (cigarette Co) logo as this was controversial times in F1 when cigarette manufacturers sponsorship was coming to a end. The model was unavailable in the shops and most models you will find carry the 'Mikka' logo instead which was reproduced in the West 'font' as a way of circumnavigating the ban.  This Model was made by minichamps under licence to Pauls Auto Art and was a separate McLaren 'Team' edition of which I believe they were only available to McLaren members and limited to some 500 models. You may see some 'Fakes' as the West logo decals are available to modify existing models for collectors BUT they will NOT be in the West McLaren Box but in standard Minichamps packaging.