HPI racing , Creating Fun Since 1986
Excitement is what it is all about! HPI cars and trucks are renowned for their exceptional durability, innovative designs and high quality, but most of all they are FUN!
HPI products are enjoyed by hobbyists of all ages, from beginners to enthusiasts, with an eye for something special.
It all started in 1986: with a small investment and a lot of hard work, Tatsuro Watanabe began Hobby Products International in Southern California, the world’s biggest hotspot for RC (Radio Control) models and products. The initial product range included car accessories like graphite parts for existing race cars, wheels for off-road and on-road vehicles and motors. The Uno motors even won a World Championship title in 1987, proving that the company had what it takes to compete with the top companies in the world! This early success allowed HPI to grow the product range quickly and eventually release the first car kit designed by HPI, the Super F1.
More sales success led to HPI substantially increasing the size of the design team, and more kits and options soon followed. From here things went fast, rapidly shifting HPI's focus from being an accessories company to being one of the most prolific RC companies in the world. From the initial electric-powered car kits, the HPI product line expanded into fuel-powered RC with the Nitro RS4, off-road with the RS4 MT, small-scale RC with the Micro RS4 and eventually into bigger and bigger kits like the legendary Savage monster truck and Baja 1/5th scale buggy and truck series of vehicles. Along the way, HPI cars and trucks won plaudits and awards from RC media and fans alike, with web pages and fan groups helping to spread the word about HPI Racing.
HPI car designs were used as the basis for the HB brand of pure racing cars, and this led to the brand's first World Championship win in 2006 in the ISTC on-road racing category. In off-road racing, the D8 buggy won its first World Championship in 2008, and further commitment to racing development saw many more off-road championship wins around the world, including multiple US National wins and 2 more buggy World Championship wins.
The RS4 series - One of the very first electric touring car racers
The Nitro RS4 - Kickstarted the nitro touring car movement
The Micro RS4 - Created the 1/18th scale car category
The Savage - Popularized the 1/8th scale monster truck category
The Baja 5B – The first popular large scale 1/5th scale off-road RC vehicle
HB Cyclone - IFMAR World Champion Touring Car (2006, Andy Moore, Italy)
HB D8 - IFMAR World Champion 1/8th buggy (2008, Atsushi Hara, USA)
The Savage XS - The fastest Mini Monster Truck in the world (65+mph/105 km/h)
HB D812 - IFMAR World Champion 1/8th buggy (2012, Ty Tessmann, Sicily)
The Baja Q32 - The first micro-scale car with Real Steer control
In 2016, the 30th anniversary year of HPI Racing, HPI and HB brands parted ways as HPI Racing came under the ownership of Ripmax, the largest RC distributor in the United Kingdom and the largest Futaba distributor in Europe.
HPI's success is firmly rooted in the excitement, curiosity and genuine enthusiasm for everything about radio-controlled cars, and we carry forward the momentum of our innovation and success into every product we design and sell. From the wheel-to-wheel action of on-road cars, to the wild acrobatics of monster trucks and the extreme size and power of large-scale off-road, HPI designers have continually led the way, forging a path for the rest of the industry to follow.
HPI is proud to offer unique, exciting and fun models that have brought thousands of people into the hobby. HPI's worldwide fan base shares the passion about their cars and the RC hobby with everybody at HPI. RC car fans can be sure that HPI is continually looking ahead to come up with the next big thing!
