Officers from MPI Inc. USA and Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) have introduced a multi-year settlement that may see the main motorsports steering wheel provider develop into a ‚Proud Associate of HSR.‘
Inside the new settlement, MPI has been named the ‚Official Steering Wheel Provider of HSR‘ and the title presenting sponsor of HSR’s new MPI Spirit of Motorsport Award.
Based in 2009 by Max Papis and Tatiana Fittipaldi Papis, MPI has grown right into a worldwide business chief within the motorsports steering wheel sector. The MPI collections, collaborations and product traces are huge, providing steering wheels for the whole lot from oval monitor racing to street racing and from drag racing to even racing simulator system fitments. All of it provides as much as MPI’s completed historical past in worldwide skilled motorsports, together with being the unique provider of steering wheels to all groups competing within the internationally fashionable Australian Supercars Championship.
The HSR partnership offers MPI with not solely the official product designation but additionally the presenting rights to the thrilling new MPI Spirit of Motorsport Award. The very best ‚off-track‘ and non-competition honor in HSR’s practically 50-year historical past, the MPI Spirit of Motorsport Award will yearly acknowledge a worthy HSR member who finest shows season-long ardour, integrity and generosity for and inside historic motorsports all through the season.
MPI Spirit of Motorsport Award candidates will likely be members of the HSR membership neighborhood displaying the traits of heritage preservation, accountable restoration and renovation, youth mentorship, paddock and neighborhood spirit, management and integrity and an total dedication to philanthropy and ‚giving again‘.
Papis will serve with different motorsports and paddock leaders on the MPI Spirit of Motorsport Choice Committee, which will likely be established in preparation for the primary presentation of the distinction in 2026.
Moreover, MPI has additionally stepped as much as supply the complementary MPI Efficiency & Ardour Award this 12 months. Scheduled to be offered on the 2025 HSR Daytona Traditional 24 Hour offered by Mission Meals, the Efficiency & Ardour honor will likely be awarded to the competitor demonstrating the perfect ‚coronary heart, hustle and horsepower‘ all through the oldest HSR Traditional Endurance Championship offered by Mission Meals race.
One of the fashionable drivers with followers and even his opponents in his profession, Papis was recognized for his total optimistic outlook and embracing the qualifying traits of each the MPI Spirit and MPI Efficiency & Ardour awards. An expert driver for the reason that age of 12, Papis raced in Formulation 1, ChampCar, IndyCar, IMSA, Grand-Am, IROC and the NASCAR Truck, Xfinity and Cup Sequence.
Papis is a two-time Rolex 24 At Daytona total profitable co-driver and joined Scott Pruett in co-driving to the 2004 Grand-Am Rolex Sports activities Automobile Sequence Daytona Prototype season championship. Moreover, he nonetheless holds the document for having essentially the most NASCAR race begins by a European driver.
Throughout his lengthy racing profession, Papis collaborated with a number of high steering wheel producers, which constructed his ardour for and understanding of the enterprise. His predominant objective has been to use this expertise and data to supply state-of-the-art merchandise for the motorsports neighborhood.
Subsequent up on the 2025 HSR calendar is the HSR VIR Historics at VIRginia Worldwide Raceway (VIR), September 4 – 7.
“We at MPI are extremely excited to affix forces with HSR,“ stated Papis. „When John Doonan introduced us the concept, my crew and I have been instantly on board. This partnership brings collectively MPI’s ardour for security, innovation and craftsmanship with HSR’s legendary function as a frontrunner in historic and classic motorsports. We’re proud to help the preservation of iconic race automobiles by handcrafting options that respect the previous whereas integrating fashionable security along with introducing with HSR a brand new and soon-to-be coveted award and distinctive trophy to a racing neighborhood I deeply love.”
John Doonan, HSR President, stated: “We’re delighted to have MPI be a part of our rising HSR partnership household and look ahead to an extended and productive relationship with Max, Tatiana, their household, and everybody at MPI. We’re excited to introduce MPI steering wheels and the corporate’s different high quality merchandise to our HSR member opponents. The eagerness and high-power progeny Max and Tati collectively convey to our paddock alone makes MPI the proper match for each the brand new MPI Spirit of Motorsport Award and the MPI Efficiency & Ardour Award at this 12 months’s HSR Traditional Daytona 24 Hour offered by Mission Meals. Even higher, MPI could have a right away presence within the HSR paddock as we start the second half of the 2025 season, and we will’t wait to get this implausible new partnership began.”
