It was announced a while back that Danica Patrick would be a playable racer in Sega’s upcoming game – Diddy Kong Racing Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. Sega is now bringing more of the real world into their latest racing game.
Sega announced today that Patrick will be driving a custom Hot Wheels car in the Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. It’s an electric green-white car that’s covered in logos for Hot Wheels and Patrick’s main sponsor Go Daddy. If that wasn’t enough, Sega has also given the vehicle its own cringeworthy name – the “Danicar.”
In slightly more interesting news, a die-cast version of the car will be available as a bonus pack-in with the game at retail later this year. Unfortunately, the car doesn’t transform like it does in the game. At least you’re getting a Hot Wheels die-cast car that you’ll observe with curiosity for a few minutes before its relegated to a spot in the closet to be lost forever.
“Using Danica Patrick’s existing relationship with Mattel and Hot Wheels, we were able to extend our brand beyond the Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed game universe and into consumer products with the creation of this custom toy,” said Marcella Churchill, Senior Director of Marketing, SEGA of America. “The Hot Wheels brand has a reputation for developing beloved childhood toys and our partnership will undoubtedly ignite this nostalgia amongst fans when they get to race this transforming vehicle within the game.”
I’m still not sold on the concept of a Patrick being in the game, but at least Sega is trying to make it work. The last time a human invaded the world of Sonic didn’t work out too well. We can only hope a similar scenario is avoided in this latest game.