Motorsports and Sponsorships
Avon, then part of Avon Rubber PLC, was involved in Formula One in the 1950s (1954 and from 1956 to 1959), then in 1981 and 1982.
Cooper became the official tire of the A1 Grand Prix, dubbed the World Cup of Motorsports, for the series' initial 2005-2006 season and was under contract to produce slick tires and treaded rain tires for the series championship until 2008. Cooper became the official tire of the Champ Car Atlantic Championship in 2007. Cooper became the official tire of USF2000 National Championship and the IMSA Prototype Lites series (formerly IMSA Lites) in 2010.
Since 1982, Avon Tyres had been the sole supplier for the British Formula Three Championship. From the 2009 season onwards, these were re-branded "Cooper" as Cooper became the championship's official title sponsor, and will be until the end of the 2014 season at least. Avon Tyres is also the exclusive supplier for the FIA Formula Two Championship since it was revived in 2009.
In April 2010, Cooper/Avon Tyres presented a written proposal to Formula One Team Association (FOTA) to be the official tire supplier for the 2011 Formula One season.
Read more about this topic: Cooper Tire & Rubber Company