| The philosophy and strength of the Company are founded on the results achieved in thirty years of being present on the world's racing tracks: from F1 to rally tracks, without forgetting ALMS, CART and IRL. Technology, enthusiasm, experience, research, know-how, and again, organization, timing and logistics have been transferred from the racing world to use on the road, to guarantee those who buy O·Z wheels maximum quality, performance and safety. |
| Formula 1 and Rally require wheels that are light, resistant to impact and temperature, presenting no defects whatsoever, as well as stable and easy to handle. These are the same features carried by the O·Z wheels fitted on new cars or available on the after market for standard vehicles. For the O·Z team a victory at Monza is just as important as the satisfaction of our clients. |
| OZ Italy Company History |
| • 4th January 1971: in a petrol station in Rossano Veneto, in the province of Vicenza, Silvano Oselladore and Pietro Zen (the name of the Company, O·Z, derives from the acronym of their initials), car and racing enthusiasts, hand-crafted their first light alloy wheels, and fitted them onto the glorious Mini Cooper, which raced and won rallies of the day. This was the first challenge. |
| • 1978: O·Z S.p.A. was constituted, with a company capital of 210 million lire, thanks to the official entry of Isnardo Carta, still chairman of the Group. The new manufacturing facility was inaugurated in S. Martino di Lupari, in the province of Padua, on a site of 1,800 sq.m. |
| • 1982: O·Z became the sole supplier to Lamborghini. |
| • 1984: O·Z Racing Division was set up, run by Claudio Bernoni (today Managing Director of O·Z S.p.A.) and production was started on wheels for Formula 1. The first single-seater to be equipped with the wheels was Patrese and Cheever's F1 Alfa Romeo Euroracing, with two-piece wheels in magnesium and aluminium. |
| • 1987: O·Z set up the "Racing Wheels" award, with the aim of identifying talent emerging in the car racing world. Gordon Murray (1988), Carlos Sainz (1990), Michael Schumacher (1991), Jacques Villeneuve (1994) and Frank Williams (1996) were awarded the prize. |
| • 1989: the associate partner O·Z Japan was set up. |
| • 1990: Carlos Sainz won the Driver's World Rally on a Toyota Celica 4WD, equipped with O·Z wheels. |
| • 1991: O·Z patented the technology for the unified centre bore for multiple applications (O·Z KIT SYSTEM). |
| • 1992: O·Z moved into the modern factory in S. Martino di Lupari. Today the Company occupies a total surface area of 100,000 sq.m, of which 75,000 are covered. Carlos Sainz won his second World Rally. |
| • 1993: the associate partner O·Z Deutschland was set up. In the same year Alain Prost's Williams won the F1 car and driver titles. The cars were fitted with O·Z wheels. |
| • 1994: O·Z set up its own Style Center. |
| • 1996: the third associate partner, O·Z France, was set up. |
| • 1997: the Carting Championship, Indianapolis 500 Miles and Indy Racing League were added the O·Z collection of medals. |
| • 1998: O·Z obtained ISO 9001 Certification, issued by the German KBA board. O·Z was the first Italian company to obtain this type of certification on its entire production cycle. |
| • 1999: collaboration with Aprilia was initiated and a project for forged aluminium motorbike wheels was developed and applied to the RSV One Thousand R. The associate partners O·Z USA and O·Z Scandinavia were set up. |
| • 2000: success in the World Rally with the Peugeot 206 WRC. |
| • 2001: a new victory with the Peugeot Total Team (Constructor's Championship) and with the Subaru World Rally Team (Driver's Championship) with Richard Burns. Victories also in the F3000 Championship, Indy 500 and Le Mans 24 Hours. 2001 also marked the return of O·Z to the motorbike sector with new forged aluminium wheels for the After Market. |
| • 2002: Marcus Grönholm wins the Driver's World Rally Championship on a Peugeot 206. The same team wins the Constructor's Championship. 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions in the American Le Mans, with Kristensen, Capello, Biela and Pirro on Audi R8, equipped with O·Z wheels. |
