SPARCO ACQUIRES IMPACT RACING AND MASTERCRAFT SAFETY
Impact Racing, Inc. and its associated brands (MasterCraft Safety and MasterCraft Defense) have been wholly acquired by Sparco S.p.A. Daily operations and manufacturing, sales and customer service, as well as the management structure and staffing of Impact, will be consistent in all locations with former owner Robbie Pierce remaining in a consulting role.
Italian-based Sparco was founded in 1977 by two young drivers with a desire to improve racing safety. In 2009, Mr. Aldino Bellazzini became the majority stakeholder and Chairman and immediately began implementing numerous technical advance-ments resulting in Sparco receiving ISO/TS16949:09 quality certification in 2010. As the former CEO of Petronas Lubricants International, Mr. Bellazzini is no stranger to motorsports and welcomed the challenge to continuously evolve the Sparco product line-up and he is now eager to bring the same vision and insight to the Impact brand. “I am excited for the future of Sparco and Impact,” Bellazzini shared. “There are many similarities between our companies and I am confident this will be beneficial to the customers, distributors, and employees of both organizations.”
Headquartered in Volpiano, Turin, Italy, Sparco’s line of exclusive safety products are distributed worldwide and can be found on top tier teams such as McLaren’s Formula 1 and Team Peugeot’s Dakar efforts as well as renowned drivers such as Fernando Alonso, Stephane Peterhansel, and this year’s Indianapolis 500 champion, Takumo Sato. Many of Sparco’s custom handcrafted carbon fiber components can be found on the world’s exotic supercars including the prestigious distinction as the OEM seat supplier for the Bugatti Chiron. Prior to the acquisition of Impact, Sparco employed 800 team members in five facilities located on three continents. The addition of Impact to the Sparco family adds eighty U.S. based production specialists as well as strategically located customer sales and service representatives in California, Indiana, and North Carolina.
“Our employees are our greatest asset, and Sparco recognizes that”, former Impact owner, Robbie Pierce emphasized. “Since I purchased MasterCraft Safety in 1999 my goal has always been to build this company into an American equivalent of Sparco. To have that very company validate my efforts through their acquisition of both the Impact and MasterCraft brands and have the brands continue is a tremendous endorsement of our talented and hardworking employees. I am extremely proud of everything we have accomplished over the years.”
The addition of Impact Racing and its 45,000-square foot Indiana facility strengthens Sparco’s position in America’s heartland and adds
Made in the USA capabilities to its portfolio. “This acquisition is strategic in allowing us to provide quicker service to our teams and customers in the United States,” Bellazzini further explained. While the Impact and MasterCraft brands and their associated mainstay of products will continue under the respective brand names, the primary benefit is the influx of technology available through Sparco’s innovative research and development department, particularly with regards to carbon fiber safety products. Expect Impact’s product line to expand with new offerings coming online for the 2018 season.
Press Release Provided by Kelli Willmore
