OZ Group
Encyclopedia
OZ Group is an Italian
company founded in 1971 that produces car and motorcycle wheels, specifically alloy wheel
s. They are an OEM
supplier to a number of manufacturers in addition to aftermarket
sales and are a prominent wheel supplier in motorsport
.
in Rossano Veneto
near Venice
in 1971 by Silvano Oselladore and Pietro Zen from whose initials the company takes its name. OZ S.p.A. was officially established as a company in 1978 following an investment by Carto Isnardo SpA. 1989 saw the company's first affiliate set up as OZ Japan began business. In 1992 the company moved to a new factory in its current headquarters location of San Martino di Lupari
.
In 1999 OZ branched out into motorcycle wheel production in collaboration with Aprilia
.
Today the company produces alloy wheels for motorsports, aftermarket
and OEM
applications in addition to motorcycle
wheels and custom items for specialist tuners
and designers including Bertone
, Pininfarina
, AMG
and Hartge
. OZ also produces wheels for Sparco
in partnership with their compatriots. Their main competitor is BBS.
in 1984, supplying Riccardo Patrese
and Eddie Cheever
's Alfa Romeo
team. In 1990 the company were wheel suppliers to the Toyota rally team as Carlos Sainz
won his first World Rally Championship
. In 1996 the OZ supplied Williams F1 team won the Formula One constructor's championship and driver Damon Hill
won the drivers' championship. The following year, an OZ supplied car won the Indianapolis 500
.
A second WRC championship victory this time with Peugeot in 2000 preceded a slew of victorious partnerships in 2001 as OZ became a premier motorsports wheel provider. While Peugeot again won the constructor's title in WRC, OZ also supplied the Subaru World Rally Team
as Richard Burns
won the driver's championship. The year also saw OZ supplied teams winning the Indy 500 and Le Mans
.
As of 2011, OZ currently supplies the F1 teams Red Bull Racing
and Lotus Renault
, the Ford World Rally Team and the Audi
sports car racing
and DTM
teams. They are exclusive suppliers to the GP3 series
and before its closure in 2010 the A1 GP series and supply 90% of WRC
teams and 80% of IndyCar
teams.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
company founded in 1971 that produces car and motorcycle wheels, specifically alloy wheel
Alloy wheel
Alloy wheels are automobile wheels which are made from an alloy of aluminium or magnesium. They are typically lighter for the same strength...
s. They are an OEM
OEM
OEM means the original manufacturer of a component for a product, which may be resold by another company.OEM may also refer to:-Computing:* OEM font, or OEM-US, the original character set of the IBM PC, circa 1981...
supplier to a number of manufacturers in addition to aftermarket
Aftermarket (automotive)
The automotive aftermarket is the secondary market of the automotive industry, concerned with the manufacturing, remanufacturing, distribution, retailing, and installation of all vehicle parts, chemicals, tools, equipment and accessories for light and heavy vehicles, after the sale of the...
sales and are a prominent wheel supplier in motorsport
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
.
History
The enterprise was founded in a filling stationFilling station
A filling station, also known as a fueling station, garage, gasbar , gas station , petrol bunk , petrol pump , petrol garage, petrol kiosk , petrol station "'servo"' in Australia or service station, is a facility which sells fuel and lubricants...
in Rossano Veneto
Rossano Veneto
Rossano Veneto is a town in the province of Vicenza, Veneto, Italy. SR245 goes through it.-Sources:*...
near Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
in 1971 by Silvano Oselladore and Pietro Zen from whose initials the company takes its name. OZ S.p.A. was officially established as a company in 1978 following an investment by Carto Isnardo SpA. 1989 saw the company's first affiliate set up as OZ Japan began business. In 1992 the company moved to a new factory in its current headquarters location of San Martino di Lupari
San Martino di Lupari
San Martino di Lupari is a comune in the Province of Padua in the Italian region Veneto, located about 45 km northwest of Venice and about 25 km north of Padua...
.
In 1999 OZ branched out into motorcycle wheel production in collaboration with Aprilia
Aprilia
Aprilia is an Italian motorcycle company, one of the seven marques owned by Piaggio, the world's fourth largest motorcycle manufacturer.Aprilia started as a scooter manufacturer, but has more recently come to be known for its race-winning sportbikes...
.
Today the company produces alloy wheels for motorsports, aftermarket
Aftermarket (automotive)
The automotive aftermarket is the secondary market of the automotive industry, concerned with the manufacturing, remanufacturing, distribution, retailing, and installation of all vehicle parts, chemicals, tools, equipment and accessories for light and heavy vehicles, after the sale of the...
and OEM
OEM
OEM means the original manufacturer of a component for a product, which may be resold by another company.OEM may also refer to:-Computing:* OEM font, or OEM-US, the original character set of the IBM PC, circa 1981...
applications in addition to motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
wheels and custom items for specialist tuners
Car tuning
Car tuning is both an industry and a hobby, in which an automobile is modified in order to improve its performance, handling and appearance. As most vehicles leave the factory set up for average driver expectations and average conditions, tuning has become a way to personalize the characteristics...
and designers including Bertone
Bertone
Gruppo Bertone is an Italian automobile company, which has specialized in car styling, coachbuilding and manufacturing. Bertone styling is distinctive, with most cars having a strong "family resemblance" even if badged by different manufacturers...
, Pininfarina
Pininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers,...
, AMG
AMG
- Automobiles :* AB Motorfabriken i Göteborg, a former Swedish automobile manufacturer* AM General, a manufacturer of speciality and military vehicles* AMG , a Swedish automobile manufactured between 1903 and 1905...
and Hartge
Hartge
Hartge is a third party car tuning company specializing in BMW, MINI and Range Rover vehicles. Founded in 1971 in Merzig, Germany, the company moved to its current location in Beckingen in 1974...
. OZ also produces wheels for Sparco
Sparco
Sparco S.p.A is an Italian auto part and accessory company headquartered in Settimo Torinese, Turin, Italy that specializes in producing items such as seats, steering wheels, harnesses, racewear and helmets. Sparco branded alloy wheels are produced under licence by OZ Group...
in partnership with their compatriots. Their main competitor is BBS.
Motorsport
OZ began their long-standing involvement with Formula OneFormula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
in 1984, supplying Riccardo Patrese
Riccardo Patrese
Riccardo Gabriele Patrese is an Italian former racing driver, who raced in Formula One from to .He became the first Formula One driver to achieve 200 Grand Prix starts when he appeared at the 1990 British Grand Prix, and the first to achieve 250 starts at the 1993 German Grand Prix...
and Eddie Cheever
Eddie Cheever
Edward "Eddie" McKay Cheever, Jr. is an American racing driver who raced for almost thirty years in Formula One, Sports cars, CART and the Indy Racing League. Cheever participated in 143 World Championship Formula One races and started 132, more than any other American, driving for nine different...
's Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo in Formula One
Alfa Romeo participated in Formula One, as both a constructor and engine supplier, from to .-Success, 1950-1951:In 1950 Nino Farina won the inaugural Formula One World Championship in a 158 with supercharger, in 1951 Juan Manuel Fangio won while driving an Alfetta 159...
team. In 1990 the company were wheel suppliers to the Toyota rally team as Carlos Sainz
Carlos Sainz
Carlos Sainz Cenamor is a Spanish rally driver. He won the World Rally Championship drivers' title with Toyota in 1990 and 1992, and finished runner-up four times...
won his first World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
. In 1996 the OZ supplied Williams F1 team won the Formula One constructor's championship and driver Damon Hill
Damon Hill
Damon Graham Devereux Hill OBE is a retired British racing driver. In 1996 Hill won the Formula One World Championship. As the son of the late Graham Hill, he is the only son of a world champion to win the title...
won the drivers' championship. The following year, an OZ supplied car won the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
.
A second WRC championship victory this time with Peugeot in 2000 preceded a slew of victorious partnerships in 2001 as OZ became a premier motorsports wheel provider. While Peugeot again won the constructor's title in WRC, OZ also supplied the Subaru World Rally Team
Subaru World Rally Team
The Subaru World Rally Team was Subaru's World Rally Championship team. It used a distinctive blue with yellow color scheme that is a throwback to the sponsorship deal with State Express 555, a BAT cigarette brand popular in Asia. 555 logos were found on Subaru cars from 1993 to 2003...
as Richard Burns
Richard Burns
Richard Alexander Burns was an English rally driver. He was born in Reading, Berkshire. He was the 2001 World Rally Champion, having previously finished runner-up in the series in 1999 and 2000. He also helped Mitsubishi to the world manufacturers' title in 1998, and Peugeot in 2002...
won the driver's championship. The year also saw OZ supplied teams winning the Indy 500 and Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
.
As of 2011, OZ currently supplies the F1 teams Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing is a Formula One racing team based in Milton Keynes, England which currently holds an Austrian licence. It is, along with Scuderia Toro Rosso, one of two teams owned by beverage company Red Bull GmbH. The team have won two Constructors' Championship titles, in and , becoming the...
and Lotus Renault
Renault F1
Lotus Renault GP, formerly the Renault F1 Team, is a British Formula One racing team. The Oxfordshire-based team can trace its roots back through the Benetton team of the late 1980s and 1990s to the Toleman team of the early 1980s. Renault had also competed in various forms since , before taking...
, the Ford World Rally Team and the Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
sports car racing
Sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars....
and DTM
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
The Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters is a touring car racing series based in Germany, but also with rounds elsewhere in Europe....
teams. They are exclusive suppliers to the GP3 series
GP3 Series
The GP3 Series, or GP3 for short, is a single seater motor racing series launched in 2010 as a feeder series for the GP2 Series, introduced by GP2 organiser Bruno Michel. It was initially thought that the GP3 series would merge with the International Formula Master series...
and before its closure in 2010 the A1 GP series and supply 90% of WRC
WRC
WRC may refer to:Auto racing:* World Rally Championship* World Rally CarVideo games:* World Rally Championship * WRC: Rally Evolved* WRC: FIA World Rally Championship Broadcasting stations:...
teams and 80% of IndyCar
IndyCar
IndyCar is the trade name of an American-based open-wheel auto racing sanctioning body. IndyCar sanctions three racing series, the premier IZOD IndyCar Series with its centerpiece Indianapolis 500, and developmental series Firestone Indy Lights and the U.S...
teams.