The HPI WR8 is one of the most popular HPI RC cars. Its 1/8 scale rally car has been around for quite a number of years now and has been the only real 1/8 scale rally car choice for rally enthusiasts. Available both in nitro or electric it certainly covers all areas of the 1/8 scale rally scene, but what do you get in the box for your money? Let's find out as we unbox the electric version , otherwise known as the HPI WR8 Flux.

 

Opening the box

On opening the box (which by the way has some cracking artwork on it) you are greeted straight away by the lovely blue body of the WR8. There is also the manual in a bag which also contains some stickers etc, which is tucked up the side of the body. The car is nearly cable tied down inside the box so the body isn’t moving around inside it which is good. On the one end of the box is the transmitter, which with the way the packing is made for this box, is not going to move and start catching and moving across the body which I think is pretty neat. 

 

Taking the car out the box

 

When you get the WR8 out the box, you are greeted by some 1/8 rallying loveliness! Now years ago the body used to be a Ford Fiesta in various liveries (the late Ken Block for example) but now the body is of the 2001 Subaru Impreza WRC (WRC Standing for World Rally Car) or to most people like to call them the big eye impreza body. The livery on this Impreza body is of the late, great Richard Burns who won the 2001 World Rally Championship alongside co/driver Robert Reid in the 2001 Impreza WRC. They have also put the New Zealand rally event plates on the car which is a nice touch, although being in the UK I would have loved to have seen the event plates from the 2001 Network Q RAC Rally, but that’s more likely down to licensing. It could also be down to Richard and Robert winning the 2001 Rally of New Zealand, as Richard and Robert finished on the podium in 3rd place on the Network Q RAC Rally.

 

 

The body is really really good, the blue is a little bit lighter than what it should be in my opinion but that’s just being picky on my part to be fair. It looks great, has all the correct livery on it too. The wheels look great with their chunky tyres on too, although I do wish they painted the wheels gold rather than have them in the orangey colour they come out the box in. Again it’s me just being picky but it’s something I can easily change with some Tamiya TS gold spray. 

 

When you lift the cover off the body, you are greeted with the great WR8 chassis and electrics that everyone loves. This is a 3S brushless capable car with its 4000kv motor, and is shaft driven 4WD. It also features adjustable rally tuned suspension and adjustable gear diffs too. There are a number of upgrades available for the car too which can be found on our website. 

After drooling over the WR8 all that is left to take a look at is the transmitter which is the HPI TF-50 radio system. This is a standard 2.4GHz radio system which will give you trouble-free, total control of your RC car.

 

I’m really chuffed to have purchased this, I’m a rally fan through and through, as you can probably tell with me waffling on about it! All I need to do now is get my 3S lipo battery on charge and get this WR8 out on some rally style roads and give it some stick! Keep a look out for some great images and videos with this car, I think I’m going to enjoy owning this!