Spark models exist because of one man's passion. Hugo Ripert, the company's founder, grew up in the modelling business: his father André was in the trade before him. Hugo went on to work with the Vitesse, Quartzo, and Ixo brands, where he oversaw every stage of model development—from photo research and prototype sculpting through hand samples and into full production.

In 2000, Hugo began arranging for the first Spark models of Le Mans cars to be produced and distributed. He deliberately targeted the cars at the back of the grid—the ones ignored by the major manufacturers—producing them in small runs of around 700 to 1,000 pieces. Together with partners, he established a factory in southern China.

If our brand has been successful, it is in large part because the partners are, without exaggeration, car nuts. They race and restore cars. They collect full-size vehicles and scale models alike. They attend race meetings, festivals, museums, and private collections. That shared passion drives a never-ending search for better modelling techniques and materials.