This weekend, Formula One takes to the bustling streets of Sin City for the highly anticipated Las Vegas Grand Prix. We have no doubts that this race will attract crowds of race fans, numerous celebrities, and giant robots. Wait, what?
That’s right! The world of motorsports and the world of anime will collide on the streets of Vegas thanks to a one-off event partnership between Scuderia AlphaTauri and Bandai Namco featuring the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise.
Since the original Mobile Suit Gundam anime debuted on Japanese televisions in 1979, the franchise has grown to include numerous anime series, full-length feature films, a library of video games, and multiple lines of snap-together plastic model kits in various grades of complexity and size. From the original Mobile Suit Gundam to the more recent anime, 2022’s Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, each Gundam story focuses on a youthful protagonist fated to pilot a technologically advanced robot called a “Gundam.” Narratively, Gundam sets itself apart from other, more fantastic giant robot anime with a narrative that doesn’t shy away from the atrocities of war and a focus on future-looking technology grounded in science. Throughout each show, these giant war machines are tuned for battle perfection or outfitted with new tech to make them even more effective on the battlefield.
That drive for perfection and constant technological refinement is the link joining Scuderia AlphaTauri and Gundam for this one-off event. Just check out Scuderia AlphaTauri’s promotional video featuring driver Yuki Tsunoda dressed up like Mobile Suit Gundam protagonist Amuro Ray. The connection between pushing technological innovation for fictional war machines and Formula One cars is a little tenuous, but we’ll take it if it means we can snag some Gundam goodies come race weekend!
At the Las Vegas Grand Prix, both Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo will pilot their AT04s decked out in Gundam decals invoking the iconic RX-78-2 Gundam from the original show and Gundam Aerial from Witch from Mercury. Meanwhile, Las Vegas Grand Prix attendees will be able to pack their suitcases full of Gundam merch after visiting two Gundam Base pop-up shops near the Las Vegas Strip Circuit area at Elara by Hilton and The Park by MGM. On display will be a custom version of the Perfect Grade Unleashed RX-78-2 model kit decked out in Scuderia AlphaTauri’s livery. Here’s a promotional video for the RX-78-2 Gundam Perfect Grade Unleashed to give you a sense of what this model normally looks like.
While the custom PG Unleashed won’t be for sale, we’re eager to see what is available. Hopefully, you’re entering this race weekend with a slightly better understanding about why there are so many giant robots hanging out in Vegas. Now, if you don’t mind, would you kindly pick us up a model kit or two?
