Race of Lights: Davide Groppi turns childhood memory into light
The wall lamp designed by the Italian brand stems from a memory: the electric slot-car racing track. A game that becomes a functional object while retaining its original spirit, inviting the user to interact and play.
The world of design often takes inspiration from other sectors to draw on technologies, shapes and aesthetics that can be used to create original objects and products capable of making a difference. An example of this contamination can be seen in the Race of Lights project, developed by Davide Groppi and launched in 2025.
The new lamp originates from the world of play and immediately takes us back to the 1980s/90s: as the name suggests, the piece is inspired by the famous electric slot-car racing tracks, a popular game during those years.
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Davide Groppi turns childhood memory into light
A versatile wall lamp
Designed by Davide Groppi, founder of the brand, Race of Lights offers a new way of imagining light: the wall lamp features a 24V electric track as its structure, which can be assembled and customised, with small spotlights attached magnetically and positioned freely along the electrical track.
It can cover walls up to a maximum length of 5 metres through three different modules that can be assembled to create ever-changing layouts. Made from textured matt black polyethylene, these elements echo the same effect of toy tracks.
The basic product kit includes 2 short straight modules, 4 longer sections and 6 curves. These are complemented by the power supply components: 2 end elements and 4 light-cars (green, white, blue and red). The fixture can also be powered via a remote driver, available as an accessory.
Race of Lights, light as play
The track is designed to accommodate and power up to 8 spotlights, which act as movable light sources that can be positioned simply and quickly thanks to the magnetic fixing system. Equipped with an adjustable head, the beam can also be directed, allowing users to create different lighting scenarios and colour compositions.
Thanks to its concept, the product goes beyond the idea of a functional object and uses play as a tool to make light more intuitive. Davide Groppi has transformed a childhood game shared by many into a furnishing element that invites users to play, interact and experiment. In this sense, Race of Lights does not simply reference the aesthetic of racing tracks, but also draws on their principle of interaction and transformation.
As the brand explains: “A simple and intuitive system, where light can be moved and reinvented whenever you wish. A project that turns child’s play into an inventive light experience.”
The Davide Groppi design signature
Race of Lights is ideal for contemporary interiors that favour dynamic and customisable design elements, with a more playful touch. The flexibility of the piece ensures that it can adapt to the space and to its different configurations.
Although stylistically different from the aesthetic language of most Davide Groppi products, Race of Lights is a project that can be traced back to the brand’s design research. Like other lamps such as Imu, Rail and Moon, the aim is to use light to give form to a need or a meaning.
“Its inspirations are art, ready-made, magic, the desire to make things with your hands or simply the desire to play and have fun with light. For Davide Groppi, light is a wonderful opportunity to seduce and create emotion.”
