The FESPA vehicle wrapping competition took place over the three days of the recent FESPA Mexico show, held on 18-20 August in Centro Banamex, Mexico City. Over the course of the three-day event, 36 competitors tested their vehicle wrapping skills and battled through several rounds.

With sponsorship from Hexis and Mutoh, the competition was coordinated by Head Judge Ole Solskin Ravn, wrapping consultant and owner of Suntint A/S, Denmark, with support from Jeremy Conner, owner of Who Did That!?!, US.

Israel Ramirez of Mexican wrapping specialist NCA Wrap took the top prize, with a brilliant and consistent display of skill and experience, while Giovanni Rosas Linares of Adverta came second, and José Antonio Ramírez Medina of Stick Fast brought up the rear with an honourable third.

The World Wrap Masters was extremely popular in Mexico, with crowds cheering on competitors throughout. After a tight and exciting contest, Ramirez was crowned FESPA Wrap Masters Mexico. He sees this triumph as an additional encouragement for him to continue further improving the quality of his wrapping jobs.

“I am both surprised and incredibly excited that I’ve become the World Wrap Master champion in Mexico. Participating at this global event was a great way to show off my application skills and bring attention to customized car wraps,” said Ramirez. “I would like to thank FESPA for holding the challenge at FESPA Mexico and thanks to everyone who took part in this action. The grand prize and opportunity to go to FESPA 2017 in Hamburg are amazing.”

Competition rounds included time and skill based challenges, using objects such as Chevrolet Sparks cars and helmets to demonstrate the complexity of wrapping ‘above and beyond’ a typical vehicle application. Competitors utilised Hexis films printed on a Mutoh printer.

Judge Jeremy Conner commented: “Thank you to Israel and all the competitors for a truly fantastic display of vinyl mastery. Watching them in action demonstrated the level of technical skill, knowledge and experience required, but, most significantly, it showed just how much of an art form wrapping has become.”

Over the three day show, visitors for FESPA Mexico 2016 were also able to try their hand at wrapping cars and could speak with the Wrap Masters Judges for tips and guidance on wrapping.

The FESPA World Wrap Masters Series is a compilation of several events at different geographical locations spanning a one-year period and culminating in the grand final, that will be taking place at FESPA 2017, held on 8-12 May in Hamburg, Germany.

The initiative was designed to encourage, recognise and promote excellence in the vehicle wrapping community and to enable car wrappers from around the world to hone their skills within a live competitive environment whilst gaining global recognition as the best of the best in this burgeoning market sector.

The next round of the competition will be during FESPA Eurasia 2016, taking place 8-11 December in Istanbul, Turkey. You can register to compete here.