Impul
Japanese automotive aftermarket company
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hoshino Impul Co., Ltd., commonly known as Impul, is a Japanese automotive aftermarket company and racing team based in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo. Founded by Nissan's factory driver, Kazuyoshi Hoshino, the company exclusively produces aftermarket parts for Nissans, such as bodykits, engine components as well as wheels.
| |
| Company type | Private KK |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motorsport Automotive engineering |
| Founded | June 1980 |
| Founder | Kazuyoshi Hoshino |
| Headquarters | Setagaya-ku, Tokyo |
Key people | Kazuyoshi Hoshino (President) |
| Products | Aluminum wheels, aerodynamics parts, suspensions, etc. Integrated, planning and development of car parts and accessories, manufacture and sales. Planning and development, manufacture and sales of complete automobiles primarily with Nissan |
| Revenue | ¥1,297,000,000 (2006) |
Number of employees | 287 (2006) |
| Website | Impul.co.jp |
History
The company was founded in 1980 by the Nissan works driver, Kazuyoshi Hoshino in Maruko-cho, Shizuoka Prefecture.[1] Within months, Impul produced its first product, the IMPUL D-01 wheel, which to promote it, it found its way on Hoshino's Gr. 5 Silvia racing competing in the Formula Silhouette, a Fuji Grand Champion support series, as well as starting a Tokyo-based sales center in Sayama-shi, Saitama-ken. A year later, that was relocated in Kichijōji, Musashino-shi.
In 1983, Hoshino formed Hoshino Racing Limited, a racing team to help promote his products and because of expansion, he relocated his company in Shimorenjaku, Mitaka as well as establishing a depot nearby.
In 1987, Impul offered its first fully tuned car, the IMPUL 630R, a tuned Y30 Gloria/Cedric.
In 2002, the racing relocated to Gotemba, Shizuoka. After that, the company began to focus on tuning cars and has since tuned the Infiniti M, which became the Impul 651S,[2] and the Nissan Juke.[3] Both of these examples of Impul's tuning has changes to the bumpers, engines, brakes, tires, exhaust system, among other things. VIP style is the common element Impul has incorporated on.
Motorsport
| Founded | 1983 (as Hoshino Racing) |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Kazuyoshi Hoshino |
| Team principal(s) | Kazuki Hoshino |
| Current series | Super GT Super Formula Super Taikyu Kyojo Cup |
| Current drivers |
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| Website | https://impul.co.jp/team/ |
Since 1983, the company ran its own racing team which found success in domestic series such as JTCC, Formula Nippon and Super GT. Hoshino was the first driver to win in the team's R32 GT-R during a JTCC race in 1990.[4] In addition to Hoshino, notable Impul drivers include Masahiko Kageyama (1993 Japanese Touring Car Championship winner), Satoshi Motoyama (2001, 2003 and 2005 Formula Nippon champion), Benoît Tréluyer (2006 Formula Nippon champion), Tsugio Matsuda (2007 and 2008 Formula Nippon champion), Yuji Ide, and Kohei Hirate. From 1988 to 2022, auto parts supplier Calsonic served as their primary sponsor in touring car racing. Their partnership has continued through the era of the rebranding to Marelli until the end of 2024.[5] In 2025, the partnership continued with Tokyo Radiator (whose primary owner is Marelli) taking over in Super GT.[6]
Racing results
Complete All-Japan Sports Prototype Championship (JSPC) results
Sources:[7]
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Note: From 1985 to 1987 scored points for March in the Makes Championship. From 1988 the team was ran as part of NISMO along with Hasemi Motorsport and scored points for Nissan in the Makes Championship.
Complete JGTC results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Complete Super GT results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
‡ Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance was completed. * Season still in progress.
Complete Japanese Top Formula racing results
Source:[10]
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
