Cooper Tire, sole supplier and sponsor to the prestigious British Formula 3 International Series, has been conducting a parallel development programme with Caterham in order to ensure that the chassis and tyre packages evolve simultaneously and complement each other perfectly.
Caterham has a long-time relationship with Cooper via the US company’s Avon Tyres brand – Avon has been the OE fitment for all Caterham Cars since 1991. The process will mirror previous successful collaborations between the two innovative firms, which have resulted in highly-acclaimed tyres such as the Avon CR500, which was specially-developed with Caterham for the predecessor of the current Superlight R500.
The SP/300.R unveiled at the Autosport International Show today stands on prototype tyres, as the process will continue into Spring, when Caterham will complete its developmental work on the vehicle.
Cooper Tire Europe’s Motorsport Manager, Paul Coates, said, “We have enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with Caterham Cars, supplying OE products for its road and race vehicles. We are excited to be producing a bespoke product for Caterham, which will be tailored to meet the individual needs of the SP/300.R chassis. “We have worked alongside Caterham on various record-breaking attempts, whether it’s a 0-100-0mph test or a Nurburgring production car lap record. We’ve also worked closely with Lola on International F3000 and A1GP tyres, while our products carried Lola’s Grand-Am and ALMS cars to championship glory.”
Cooper Tire’s UK-based motorsport engineers are well-versed in producing tyres that meet the high downforce, lightweight characteristics of the SP/300.R thanks to its work with the British Formula 3 series – the 2011 F3 season will represent the Cooper and Avon brands’ combined 30th year as sole supplier to the championship.
Ansar Ali, managing director of Caterham Cars, said, “Cooper was the natural choice for us when it came to a tyre partner. We have had a close relationship with the company for many years and the blend of state-of-the-art design technology and rich heritage in motor racing that Cooper brings to the table makes them ideal for this job. “Although our relationship has traditionally been with Avon Tyres, we felt that Cooper’s status as supplier to some of the world’s most prestigious race series was better suited to what will be our most extreme race product.”
