A day after Lewis Hamilton was crowned Formula One world champion, Hornby has announced a victory of its own tied to the British motor racing hero.

The model maker has signed a worldwide licensing agreement with Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Limited, which will see the cars used by the F1 team replicated in Scalextric, Airfix and Corgi products.

The timing could not be better, after Hamilton clinched the F1 title in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, becoming the first British driver to win a second championship in more than 40 years.

The company also received some publicity when a short film used in the build up to the BBC coverage of the race featured a Scalextric set.

The new range of products is already under development and will be on display at the London Toy Fair in January, with shipments beginning in the second half of the year.

Hornby chief executive Richard Ames said: “We are delighted to announce this new important license with Mercedes-Benz.

“The timing is excellent with Lewis Hamilton winning the F1 World Championship at the weekend.

“Hornby is well positioned to progress a number of important licenses that we can develop across our ranges.

“Hornby will continue to develop relevant licensing relationships that complement the heritage and values of our iconic brand portfolio.”

Last week, Hornby announced plans to move from its historic headquarters in Margate.