History

OZ was established in 1997; a passion for wheels has driven it to become a legend in the automotive world.
The victories we have enjoyed alongside the most iconic names in motorsport, and our ongoing quest for success have ensured OZ’s place as industry leader.

OZ produces alloy wheels for the top automotive markets, such as: racing (F1, Rally, DTM, Indy..), aftermarket, motorcycle and OEM with special equipment for the most exclusive automobiles. OZ meets the special requirements of prestigious automotive manufacturers such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Aston Martin, Lotus and McLaren, to name but a few.

These partnerships have resulted in exclusive projects and extremely high tech wheels of superior design.
In the world of racing, OZ is synonymous with winning and the numbers speak for themselves.

OZ has been a part of Formula 1 since 1985, and the WRC since 1988; and has amassed more than 150 winning titles. Today, OZ is the brand most often found on race cars.

The company was founded in a petrol station in Rossano Veneto (near Venice) by Silvano Oselladore & Pietro Zen.

The first light alloy rims were artisan-crafted in this year and mounted on the magnificent Mini Cooper, which raced and won rally races of the day.

OZ debuts in the motorcycle world with the first OZ moto wheels.

In 1975 OZ makes an appearance in some local races, equipping several prestigious private teams and obtaining its first modest wins.

OZ S.p.A. was officially established with a company capital of 210 million lire, thanks to the official entry of Isnardo Carta.

OZ Racing Division was set up, run by Claudio Bernoni, the current Managing Director of OZ S.p.A., and production began on wheels for Formula 1 racing. 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.

The first single-seater running OZ wheels is the Euroracing Alfa Romeo F1 team with Patrese and Cheever, sporting two-piece magnesium and aluminum wheels.

OZ sets up the “Racing Wheels” award, with the aim of identifying emerging talent in motor racing. Gordon Murray (1988), Carlos Sainz (1990), Michael Schumacher (1991), Jacques Villeneuve (1994) and Frank Williams (1996) were all honored with the award.

The associate partner OZ Japan was set up.

Carlos Sainz won the Driver's World Rally in a Toyota Celica 4WD, equipped with OZ wheels.

The OZ Aprilia team is launched: an innovative racing team that participated during the ’90s in the world moto 250GP with a game-changing Aprilia ridden by Marcellino Lucchi.

The associate partner OZ Deutschland was set up.

OZ with Alain Prost - Williams - won its first F1 championship

OZ set up its own Style Center: OZ Design Lab.

OZ with Damon Hill’s Williams won its second championship in F1

Victories in The Carting Championship, Indianapolis 500 Miles and Indy Racing League all added the OZ collection of medals.

OZ obtained ISO 9001 Certification, issued by the German KBA board; the first Italian company with this certification across its’ entire production cycle.

Collaboration with Aprilia started and a project for forged aluminum motorbike wheels was developed and applied to the RSV One Thousand R.

OZ won the World Rally Championship with the Peugeot 206 WRC.

A new victory with the Peugeot Total Team (Constructors’ Championship) and with the Subaru World Rally Team (Drivers’ Championship) with Richard Burns. Victories also in the F3000 Championship, Indy 500 and Le Mans24 Hours.2001 also marked the return of OZ to the motorbike sector with new forged aluminum wheels for the After Market.

Collaboration started with Franco Sbarro and Espera Sbarro, a renowned French design school specialized in the designing of prototypes.

OZ adopted Lean Organization principles.

The now legendary Superturismo, as sported in innumerable motorsport victories, is introduced to the After Market collection. A modern classic, the Supertutismo is made available in’GT’ finish, and ‘WRC’ white in acknowledgement of the 2004 WRC drivers and manufacturers championship winning Citroen Xsara.

Each year presents new challenges to the OZ team who reinforce their status as leading manufacturers with top podium places at Le Mans with the Audi R8; the F1 Drivers and Constructors Championships with Renault F1 and Alonso, and the Word Rally Car Drivers and Constructors Championships with Citroen.

35 Anniversary. OZ opened the OZ Wheel Museum at its headquarters in S.Martino di Lupari.

 The 2006 was also an extraordinary year for OZ’s racing dept:

- Alonso and Renault win the FIA F1 constructors’ and drivers’ world championship
- Loeb wins the Rally drivers’ championship with 112 points
- The BP Ford WRT gains the Rally constructors’ championship
- Audi R10 leads in the Le Mans race
- Success in the US’ most important motor race: Indianapolis’500
- The list includes also Maserati MC12 in the FIA GT1 championship and Mitsubishi in the Dakar Rally Raid

2006 also saw the return of the classic Superleggera design, renamed as Ultraleggera, thanks to a further reduction in weight.

Complimenting the plaudits for the Antares, Superleggera and Michelangelo II wheels, OZ gained another prized design award at the Essen Motorshow when AutoBild magazine declared the Botticelli III wheel “best wheel of the year”. In the meanwhile, OZ was launching a new high-tech product line, called HLT: High Light Technology.

OZ reaches the incredible record of 100 championships.

Audi wins one-two-three at Le Mans with OZ Racing wheels. The Italian wheels company is a technical partner of the German Team with nine victories together.

OZ celebrates "40 Anniversary of the Brand" and a great racing season.

The most 2011 significant podiums:
- Formula One (constructors and driver Title with Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel)
- WRC constructors and driver Title with Citroen Total World Really Team and Sébastien Loeb)
- 24 Hours of Le Mans with Audi Sport
- DTM Title with Audi Sport
- GT1 Title with HEXIS AMR Team

Scuderia Ferrari picks and chooses OZ: the 2012 season marks the beginning of the partnership with Ferrari. OZ develops and manufactures the wheels for Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa’s single-seaters.

In Formula 1, OZ wins the third consecutive world title with Red Bull Racing after the extraordinary victories of 2010 and 2011. Moreover, the top three drivers on the table (Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen) all race on OZ wheels.

In the WRC, OZ celebrates its eight Constructors’ Championship with Citroen Total World Rally Team and its ninth Drivers’ Championship with Sebastien Loeb.

2012 also marked OZ’s 11th victory with Audi Sport at the 80th edition of the 24-hour of Le Mans.

Indy Car: a full OZ podium at the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. Drivers finishing 1st, 2nd and 3rd all win on OZ wheels.

The partnership between OZ and Volkswagen Motorsport starts off with a bang: Sebastien Ogier and VW win the world WRC on their debut appearance.

The fourth breathtaking win in a row for Sebastian Vettel in a Red Bull single-seater equipped with OZ rims.

OZ celebrates 30 years of history in the world of racing.

OZ renews its partnership with Team Ferrari for another 5 years. The two illustrious Italian brands will partner through 2019

In 2016, the company celebrated the 45th anniversary of its founding. In honor of the event, OZ launched a contemporary reinterpretation of the very first OZ wheel - the number one - manufactured in 1971.

In 2017, OZ renewed its IATF 16949 certification for the manufacture of forged wheels, a basic requirement for suppliers to the leading auto manufacturers that have, for many years, chosen OZ for the production of the most prestigious supercars.

OZ achieves historic results winning, for the third time in a row, all three of the world Grand Prix motorcycle racing championships: MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3.

OZ Japan, the company’s Japanese sales branch, celebrates its 30th anniversary.

OZ celebrates its 50 years of history with 21 consecutive victories in the WRC championship, 14 F1 world titles, 4 consecutive victories in MotoGP and 6 Formula E titles.