Any car-mad racing fan will be unstoppable when they see this winner 

FORMULA 1 CAR CAKE 

MATERIALS.

• 25cm ( 10in ) square cake
• 35cm ( 14in ) round cake board.
• 2kg ( 4lb ) sugar paste / rolled fondant black, red, blue & green food coloring pastes
• icing/confectioners' sugar in a sugar shaker
• sugar glue
• 375g ( 12oz / 1½ cups ) buttercream 

EQUIPMENT

• large rolling pin
• sharp knife
• cake smoother
• number cutter
• templates 

FORMULA 1 CAR CAKE METHOD:

Color 410g ( 13oz ) of sugarpaste grey, using a touch of black food coloring paste then color 75g ( 2 ½ oz ) of sugarpaste red Roll out the grey and cover the cake board, leaving the section uncovered on one side Trim this side into a curve. Roll out and cut red and white sugarpaste strips and stick them on the board to fill the gap, using sugar glue, then put aside to dry

Trim the crust from the cake and slice the top flat. Cut the cake in half. One half is the main body of the cake. Trim either side at the front to taper in and trim to slope down Cut a wedge measuring 5cm ( 2in ) from the other half and use to lengthen the cake Cut another wedge measuring 4cm ( 1 ½ in ) to heighten the back of the cake. From the remaining cake, cut two pieces for either side of the car.

Using buttercream, sandwich all the pieces of cake together, then spread a layer of buttercream over the surface of the cake. Color 875g ( 1 ¾ lb ) of sugarpaste blue. To create the driving seat, roll a ball using 30g ( 1oz ) of blue and press just in front of the raised wedge. Roll a sausage with 15g (1/2  oz ) and position it in a curve on top of the cake.

Roll out the remaining blue and cover the cake completely smoothing around the shape and into the grooves. Trim around the base, being careful not to mark the cake board. Roll out 75g ( 2 ½ oz ) of white sugarpaste and cut a wedge for the top of the back of the car. then cut two side pieces using the template., sticking them in place with sugar glue.

Color 75g ( 2 ½ oz ) of sugarpaste green. Using the templates, cut wedges for the front of the car at either side, then cut two side pieces Stick them in place. Roll a ball using 45g ( 1 ½ oz ) of green to make the driver's helmet and stick on to the top of the cake

To make the tires, the first color is 375g ( 12oz ) black. Split 345g ( 11oz ) of this black sugarpaste into four equal-sized pieces. Roll one of the pieces into a ball, then press down gently with the cake smoother to flatten. Make the three other tires in the same way and stick them in place with sugar glue. Using the remaining sugarpaste, thinly roll out and cut pieces to decorate the car, using the templates and a number cutter relevant to the birthday Cut a small strip for the helmet visor using black sugarpaste.

USEFUL TIP

 Use food coloring pens if you want to add more detailing to the car. Available in a range of colors, these pens are perfect for drawing fine lines and writing on sugarpaste. Before you start, make sure that the cake is completely dry.

 Also Read: HUNGRY BOOKWORM CAKE