Avon secures A1GP deal

The Avon Tyres Racing division of US company Cooper Tire & Rubber has secured a three-year contract to provide control tyres for the new-for-2005 A1 Grand Prix single-seater series. Avon's factory in Melksham, UK, has successfully proved its products in track tests of the prototype 520bhp Lola-Zytek V8 chassis in both cold and hot ambient conditions

Sep 27, 2004, 11:52 AM

After signing the deal with the A1GP CEO Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum, Cooper chairman Tom Dattilo said: "It seems only right for a global brand such as Cooper Tires to support this innovative series, which brings a new dimension to motorsport. Cooper has a strong racing heritage through our Avon racing tyres. We're making a long-term commitment to the series, and it's thrilling to be here at the start."

Sheikh Maktoum has gone with Avon after tests at Snetterton, UK, and Jerez, Spain. He said: "I was highly impressed by the performance and resourcefulness of the Cooper-Avon team, and the tyres gave us everything we wanted for our series. They were reliable and consistent and worked well in all conditions. The feedback from our team was totally positive. I've looked at the other series that have benefited from this company's tyres and I know that we've chosen the perfect partner."