4
ANDREA PONTREMOLI
Engineer Pontremoli, 2012 was an extremely
satisfactory year for Dallara. What is your
appraisal? Which result are you most proud
of?
«
The balance is positive. The result I’m most
proud of is the introduction of the new
IndyCar after nine years of honourable
service from the old model. Despite the
significant cost savings, the new model
features innovative safety and aerodynamic
concepts, has improved driveability and
makes overtaking easier, which means that
races are more exciting. There were a few
dissenting voices at the beginning of the
season with all these changes, but by the end
of the championship it was plain to everyone
that the modifications had improved the
category. Another important element was the
simulator, which is in increasing demand,
both at Dallara and from OEMs, when
developing new products, and from teams
from all categories who want to improve their
performance on the track».
Development and the local area: how firmly
rooted is Dallara in the industrial sector in
Emilia Romagna and in Italy in general?
«
As I often say, in a globalized world,
competition is no longer between individual
companies but territorial systems that are
vying for the future. A company cannot be
competitive if the area where it is present
isn’t. For this reason we are doing all we can
to increase knowledge throughout our local
territory, working with schools and training
organizations to develop the skills we require,
but also that many of the companies around
us need. We have been getting excellent
feedback from the educational institutions
and, as companies, we are pooling our
resources to create future projects to restore
hope to local people. Despite the hard times,
the crisis is teaching us new and different
ways of thinking».
Talking of the crisis, what's Dallara's recipe
for getting through it?
«
When times are hard there’s no guarantee
that things will continue to work the way
they did before, and one of the positives of
the crisis is that it forces you to think about
things. You have to reconsider everything you
do, from research to design, from production
right through to the type of products and
services we bring to the market.
An example is our simulator, which has
changed the way we think about, and design
a car. Another example is aerodynamics,
which has become a key element in a car’s
performance; we are working on new ideas to
make the entire process more efficient: from
the idea through the model to the tests in the
wind tunnel».
How is your relationship with schools and
universities?
«
Universities and schools are fundamentally
important elements in the effort to create a
competitive advantage, and this means that
we must create ever closer ties: companies
should provide input about the skills that will
be necessary in the future, while the
education system should introduce students
to the manufacturing sector by organizing
visits and work experience, so that they have
a better understanding of what they can
contribute in the workplace. Our aim is to
resurrect the craft culture, the ability to make
something».
Dallara has further consolidated its presence
in America: what are your next moves
«
The United States represent a bridge for the
products and services that we have developed
here in Italy, as well as acting as a conduit
through which we receive requests from an
advanced market like America. First
impressions are encouraging, we are just
starting out and we have to show them what
we’re made of».
What new markets is the company
concentrating on? And which projects are
involved?
«
We are looking at the emerging nations. A
new formula began in India last month and
we have been receiving positive feedback, we
are developing the Super Formula for Japan,
and we have been in talks with South Korea
“
When times are hard there’s no
guarantee that things will continue
to work the way they did before,
and one of the positives of the crisis
is that it forces you to think about
things. You have to reconsider
everything you do, from research to
design, from production right
through to the type of products and
services we bring to the market”
