Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has signed a three-year agreement to be the official tire supplier to A1 Grand Prix, a new FIA-approved motorsport series starting in September 2005.
Cooper will produce slick tires and treaded rain tires for the series championship, the World Cup of Motorsport.
"A1 Grand Prix is an innovative, global series and Cooper Tire is an exciting, growing global brand," said Tom Dattilo, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "This is a perfect fit for Cooper Tires supported by our Avon racing team’s long heritage in European motorsports. We are thrilled to be a part of this new series from the very beginning."
Cooper Tire is supporting and supplying tires to the series through its Avon Tyres Racing operation based in Melksham, Wiltshire, UK. All drivers will run on Cooper-A1 Grand Prix branded racing radials.
A1 Grand Prix’s schedule of races begins during the traditional off-season for motorsport. Cooper says due to the benefits of having warm weather climates, countries such as Dubai, China, Japan, Australia, Malaysia, South Africa and Bahrain are among the first countries expected to host race events while two races are being scheduled in the U.S. and one in Europe.
Thirteen teams, including those from the United Kingdom, China, South Africa, Portugal, Pakistan and Lebanon, have committed to A1 Grand Prix. And as many as 11 more countries are expected to field teams to race in this premier winter one-make championship, Cooper says.
