Luca Meneghetti – EVO Corse general director and sales manager

Posted By: The editoron: Tuesday, October 13, 2015In: Interviews

What is the special significance of your company name to the products you offer?

EVO Corse means “Evolution in Competition”, whereas EVO stands for evolution whileCorseis an Italian word signifying racing. We chose this company name because we aim to always stay on top when it comes to the technology and the service provided to our customers, at a fair price.

What do you consider as EVO Corse’s biggest milestone so far?

Despite being very young—EVO Corse was born only in 2002—we have rapidly grown to become a worldwide racing part producer, and now we are in the Top 5 of the best European racing alloy wheels companies. This is for sure an important milestone, but we prefer to see it as a starting point. Our goal is to continuously improve, and there is still a long way to go.

Could you give us a rundown of your products?

Racing alloy wheels are of course our core business. We mainly specialize in rally, but we also produce rims for off-road and even for formula circuit. However, our range of products includes many other accessories for racing and competitions, such as the fast hydraulic jacks both for rally and off-road, the professional bolts & nuts and the thermal insulating braking pad, which is another innovative product invented by our technical department.

Among these products, which is EVO Corse mostly known for?

We are known mainly for our wheels. If I had to choose one specific model, I would choose the DakarCorse, which is the most used rim for cross-country and rally raid. Just think for example that in the last Dakar Rally, it was fitted on 38 participating cars. However, many other wheel models are known amongst teams and drivers. I am ready to bet that soon also, the OlympiaCorse—the latest evolution specifically designed for gravel rally—will be diffusely known and appreciated.

Next year, your company will be the official supplier of the Czech Škoda Octavia RS Cup. Could you tell us more about your role in this partnership?

The SanremoCorse18” wheels will be mounted on the Skoda Oktavia RSs taking part in the competition. We are working in close contact with the team that is setting up the cars in order to develop a tailored wheel that can fit the tires and the suspensions in the best way possible.

How will this partnership raise awareness for your brand and for your new wheel products?

Branded cups really have a strong appeal in Europe, especially in Czech Republic. Being one of the partners of such a prestigious competition is a big honor for us and the acknowledgment of the quality of our work. It is of course also a way to make the EVO Corse products well-known among the fans. For this reason, in the past, we have been the official supplier of many other important branded cups, such as the Mini Cup in the Netherlands, the Clio R3T Trophy in Italy, the Audi Circuit in South Africa, the Subaru Contest in Belgium and the Opel ADAM Cup in Germany and France.

Why do you think the Škoda Octavia RS Cup chose EVO Corse as its official supplier?

First of all, for the quality and the reliability of our products. Moreover, I think that our ability to provide continuous support throughout the whole car development process has made the difference, as well as our capability to rapidly realize the necessary modifications.

What do you think are the factors that have contributed to EVO Corse’s selection as official supplier of the Škoda Octavia RS Cup?

The previous experiences and the achieved results so far speak for themselves. This year, for instance, we have supplied the Opel ADAM R2 that won the European Junior Rally Championship.

What makes your alloy wheels special, and what sets them apart from those of other manufacturers?

There are many factors that make our wheels special. They are fully produced in Italy, enabling us to personally control the manufacturing process and every single piece, as well as the raw material is undertaken to quality control checks. Moreover, we constantly look for new and innovative products that will meet our customers’ needs: our engineers and technicians have worked in motorsports for over 20 years and have achieved great expertise in the field. ‘Rapidity’ and ‘proficiency’ are the keywords in building solutions tailored to our customers.

Could you share with us the technology behind your alloy wheels?

In the design process, we use the best CAD/CAM technology and structural FEM simulation in order to obtain the maximum optimization of strength/weight ratio. The production starts from a staple for any wheel that can be defined as a “racing wheel”: primary aluminum A356-T6 is cast under low pressure into steel permanent molds. This procedure is more expensive than that needed for a normal wheel (gravity casting without heat treatment), but ensures high performance without compromise.

What are your primary considerations when it comes to the alloy wheel’s design?

First of all, we must consider the maximum amount of room that modern brake calipers can occupy and the specific tires mounted on racing cars. These elements require a rim contour design that is completely different from that of regular wheels. Then, we need to evaluate the specific use each model is intended for in order to optimize the performances without compromising the wheel strength. Finally, we also take into consideration the aesthetic; that’s why many customers use our wheels on their road car.

How would you assess the racing alloy wheel market here in the Middle East? Could you tell us about its relationship to the number or popularity of rally and track competitions in the region?

Despite not having a strong tradition, the racing wheel market in the Middle East is undergoing strong expansion. This growth is obviously related to the increasing popularity of rally and track competitions in the region. Just think that two of the best cross country rally drivers – Nasser Al-Attiya and Yazeed Al-Rajhi – are from the Middle East. This, of course, attracts the interest of many fans that hope to experience the same emotions of their favorite champions.

How do these competitions affect the alloy wheel market in the region?

Generally speaking, races and competitions cause a strong emotional impact on the audience, leading to a consequent growth of the automotive and auto parts market. Brands know this marketing mechanism very well, and for this reason, they often sponsor prize money to winners of local competitions.

There are multiple alloy wheel brands in the UAE, in particular. What do you consider as the best marketing strategy for your products in the country?

We don’t handle aftermarket wheels or general auto parts. Our brand is completely focused on racing wheels and accessories. As far as I know, in the UAE, we don’t have competitors in this specific field. However, the results achieved so far are a strong evidence of the quality and expertise we offer. Drawing attention to such results would probably be the best marketing strategy.

What do you consider as the biggest challenge in launching your alloy wheels in the Middle East?

I confess that the Middle East market is difficult to understand, and this makes the challenge even more intriguing. We aim to become well known among racing teams and enthusiasts relying on the quality of our products and on the capability to offer solutions tailored to the customers’ needs, as well as on the results achieved in only ten years of history, as I said before.

What are the latest trends in alloy wheels for racing cars? What are the reasons behind this trend?

Setting up the new racing cars, engineers are always looking for better performance. As crucial parts of the car, racing wheels need to be stronger and lighter at the same time. The challenge is very difficult, but our research and development department works constantly to find a better solution in this direction.

Bolts and nuts are also included in your product portfolio. As for the nuts, which specific applications are the steel and aluminum best suited for?

Steel nuts ensure safe fastening of the wheel, offering a valid compromise between price and performance. The main issue of this product is the weight. For this reason, we have developed professional nuts machined from high-strength aluminium alloys certified for aeronautical use that offer the same strength with a consistently lower weight.

You also offer hydraulic jacks. How do they benefit rally professionals?

Our hydraulic jacks are the jewels in the crown of our production. Thanks to the specific technology developed by the technical department, they help save time in the tire change because they are extremely fast and easy to use. Many professionals have already chosen our rally jacks: the EVOJack, for example, is part of the official equipment of all the cars of M-Sport, included those participating in the World Rally Championship. But also, many other drivers have addressed us directly asking for our jacks because they know that in any official competition, saving a few seconds can make a difference between victory and loss.

What can rally and track fans expect from EVO Corse in the coming years in terms of product launches and partnerships?

There are many projects in the pipeline. In the meantime, our technicians are working on two new wheel models that should be produced next year. They are even examining new materials that could further improve the performance of our products. Many other news are on the way and will be unveiled soon.

What do you want EVO Corse to be remembered for?