Hot Wheels HW Starting Grid 2026: Collector’s Guide
Quick answer: HW Starting Grid is the 2026 Hot Wheels mainline racing segment – ten competition cars led by the new BMW M4 GT3 and Maserati Tipo 61 castings, the Renault Espace F1, and the Cone Shaker Treasure Hunt.
Racing segments are the backbone of any Hot Wheels year, and 2026’s is called HW Starting Grid, taking over circuit duty from HW Race Day. The ten-car roster spans seventy years of motorsport, from a 1950s birdcage Maserati to a current GT3 BMW. It is one of the strongest line-ups in the 2026 mainline.
The 2026 HW Starting Grid line-up
| # | Model | Mainline # | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/10 | Instant Boost | 022 | New for 2026; fantasy racer |
| 2/10 | ’69 Dodge Charger Daytona | 023 | Kroger-exclusive 2nd colour |
| 3/10 | Track Ripper | 024 | Walmart ZAMAC variant |
| 4/10 | Bugatti Bolide | 050 | Two colours |
| 5/10 | BMW M4 GT3 | 073 | New for 2026; two colours |
| 6/10 | Renault Espace F1 | 099 | Blue and yellow releases |
| 7/10 | Twin Dorado | 100 | Two colours |
| 8/10 | Cone Shaker | 122 | Treasure Hunt; lime green |
| 9/10 | Maserati Tipo 61 | 123 | New for 2026; Target Red Edition variant |
| 10/10 | Ferrari F2004 | 173 | New for 2026; Schumacher-era F1 car |
The headline cars
BMW M4 GT3 (new casting). The current-gen M4 GT3 is one of the most-raced customer cars on the planet, and its mainline debut in two colours was an instant peg-warmer. A proper modern racer done right.
Maserati Tipo 61 (new casting). The birdcage Maserati – spaceframe chassis, Le Mans history – with a Target Red Edition chase. One of the most historically significant castings of 2026.
Ferrari F2004 (new casting). Michael Schumacher’s most dominant Formula 1 car joins the segment at number 10 – a landmark F1 casting that bridges Starting Grid and the Ferrari segment’s 2026 return.
Renault Espace F1. The minivan with a Formula 1 engine returns in two colours. If you know, you know – and if you do not, this is the most gloriously absurd racing car ever built.
Chase notes
Cone Shaker is the segment Treasure Hunt. The ’69 Charger Daytona’s second colour is Kroger-only, and the Track Ripper ZAMAC is a Walmart exclusive – both import-only for South Africa at R150 – R400 on resale. For how these exclusives work, see the 2026 price guide and Treasure Hunts 2026.
Where it fits
Starting Grid covers the circuit; for open-wheel and grand prix content there is the Formula 1 segment, and for rally flavours the HW Dirt-style off-road corner of the range. Racing across both brands? The Hot Wheels vs Matchbox breakdown shows how differently the two brands treat motorsport.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Hot Wheels HW Starting Grid segment?
HW Starting Grid is the 2026 rename and expansion of Hot Wheels' racing segment (previously HW Race Day). It holds ten slots of circuit and competition cars, from the new BMW M4 GT3 casting to the classic Maserati Tipo 61 birdcage.
Which 2026 HW Starting Grid model is the Treasure Hunt?
Cone Shaker (number 8 of 10, mainline number 122) is the HW Starting Grid Treasure Hunt for 2026, released in lime green.
What are the new castings in HW Starting Grid 2026?
Three castings debuted in the segment for 2026: Instant Boost (a fantasy racer), the BMW M4 GT3, and the Maserati Tipo 61 birdcage. The Maserati also has a Target Red Edition variant.
Is HW Starting Grid the same as HW Race Day?
HW Starting Grid takes over the circuit-racing role that HW Race Day filled in previous years. For the older segment, see our HW Race Day 2026 page; both sit inside the 250-car mainline.
Last reviewed: 2 October 2026 by the Unnew team. Checked against official sources – Hot Wheels, Matchbox and hobbyDB – plus the South African collector community.