About Me
Željko Pavičić
My story begins in 1993, with my first steps into the world of motorsport. A passion for the Opel Motorsport program (DTM) and rallying directed me in 1995 towards working at an Opel service center, and in 2001, I opened my own specialized service for Opel vehicles – AS Pavičić 2001 d.o.o – with a clear goal: to build my own racing program.
I drove my first race in 2003 in an Opel Kadett C Coupe 2.0 16V, a car I prepared with the help of my brother Josip, then a mechanical engineering student. By 2005, with the same Kadett, but now equipped with a 2.0 16V Turbo engine (from an Opel Calibra) producing 355 HP and 450 Nm, along with an upgraded suspension and Micky Thompson tires, I won the Croatian Drag Racing Championship (402 meters), setting a track record that stood until 2007.
After a break to expand the workshop, the focus shifted to hill climb races. I always prepared the engine myself, with occasional help from my brother Josip, now a Master of Mechanical Engineering. Five years of consistently competing at the top of the rankings (Group A, S-1600, Kit Car, S-2000) culminated in 2014 with winning the title of Croatian Hill Climb Champion in extremely strong competition.
That success also marked a turning point – I increasingly focused on tuning and engine preparation, seeking performance perfection. The experience gained on the track, from the Opel Astra to the Chevrolet Cruze WTCC (with which I achieved numerous victories in the national championship and top 10 finishes against much stronger cars), was directly transferred to the workshop.
On June 1st, 2024, after 23 years of successful business, I sold the car service AS Pavičić d.o.o. to focus exclusively on what is my greatest passion – motorsport and specialized engine building. My biggest support in this today is still my brother Josip, a mechanical engineer specializing in manufacturing custom parts for car tuning.
Our mission is to translate years of racing experience and technical knowledge into engines that push boundaries and deliver results on the track.