Avon tyres saved — now with a Nova name
Nova Motorsport announces that it will restart production of Avon tyres, after the brand was closed last year
Relief all round on the grippy subject of motor sport tyre supply this month after confirmation that the Avon brand has been saved by a newly created company that flips the name in reverse.
Nova Motorsport has acquired key assets of the competition tyre specialist, which closed last year after its parent Cooper Tire & Rubber Co was bought by Goodyear.
Among race organisers to have already reconfirmed new tyre supply deals for Avon through Nova is the Peter Auto organisation, for its Group C, Classic Endurance Racing prototype classes and single-make pre-1966 Porsche 911 2.0L Cup, along with the British Hillclimb Championship and the pan-European RallyX series.
Avon will remain a familiar tyre supplier in motor sport, including for Peter Auto’s Group C historic series.
Nova has bought all residual Avon stock and is also setting up a new manufacturing facility, the location of which – possibly outside the UK – has not been confirmed. But the company does have a new commercial and technical HQ in Holt, Wiltshire, close to Avon’s former home in Melksham. To aid the transition, key management staff from Avon have been hired including Paul Coates, former head of Avon Motorsport.
Nova is the brainchild of Paul Hallas, boss of SPC Rubber Group. “[By] leveraging these valuable assets we will proudly continue the legend with the vast majority of the Avon range, and also innovate with new offerings,” he said. “We are fortunate to start with a recognised product and ready global reach through agents around the world.”