Background
Berger and
Alesi would start the
1997 season with
Benetton for their second year at the team, but Berger missed three races mid-season and compatriot
Alexander Wurz deputized from the Canadian Grand Prix. The car was more competitive than its predecessor, with Alesi and Berger scoring a pole position each, and Berger dominating an emotional German GP weekend on his return and after his father's death. Wurz scored a podium in only his third race at the British GP, earning himself a drive for the following year.
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| Minichamps 430970008 |
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| Minichamps 430970058 |
Minichamps produced their Benetton B197 in diecast metal. As usual, it is well done in proportions and the livery and logos are of a good standard. The helmet looks nice, particularly Wurz's more complex design. I do seem to have an issue on every model I get with cracked decals just in front of the sidepods, and I've had like 6 of these models. Wurz's model comes based on the British GP with a limited run of 2,222 pcs.
Score: 7/10
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| Tameo TMK242 |
This Tameo model is based on the Monaco GP and comes with wet tyres. Whilst the Minichamps looks a little bulky, this model has much more refined and detailed shape. In many ways, I like the shape of the car, I quite like the simple livery, but I find the logos (on the real car) just too oversized and makes the whole thing too cluttered, it's hard to find a space where there isn't a logo from the side view. Anyway, Tameo represents the real thing very well indeed.
Score: 9/10
