Nova Motorsport is proud to announce the production of the first Avon Motorsport ACB9 Formula Ford and Avon Traction Mileage classic Land Rover tyres at its new manufacturing facility in Portugal, based at the redeveloped Camac tyre factory acquired by Nova Motorsport in May.
Nova Motorsport’s Research and Development division in Portugal has successfully concluded intensive rig and track testing of the ACB9 tyre to ensure it matches the exemplary performance and quality of the original Avon Motorsport product. Nova Motorsport’s highly experienced Trackside Engineering Team will shortly commence further track testing of the Formula Ford ACB9 tyre in the UK with leading Formula Ford drivers.
The rapid return to production of the Avon Motorsport ACB9 tyre, the multi-championship-winning product of choice for Formula Ford racers globally since the mid-1980s, reflects the speed and determination with which Nova Motorsport is acting to meet the needs of dealers and competitors reliant on Avon Motorsport’s legendary products.
Nova Motorsport’s reintroduction of the Avon Traction Mileage tyre marks the return of an equally iconic product. The Traction Mileage tyre was fitted as original equipment to the first Land Rover from mid-1949 and is the authentic choice for today’s Land Rover Series I to III classic vehicles. On-road and off-trials of the Traction Mileage tyre are scheduled to commence shortly.
The first Avon Motorsport tyres were produced at Nova Motorsport’s manufacturing facility to the highest possible quality standards. This was possible following a significant investment programme and a major logistical operation. Nova Motorsport earmarked €20 million for the expansion, refurbishment and modernisation of the Camac tyre factory in Palmeira, Portugal. The site has the capacity to produce 500,000 tyres per year, a figure that will include the relaunched Avon Motorsport tyres, Camac’s historic vehicle-focused products and a new line-up of Nova Motorsport products.
To ensure the highest possible levels of consistent manufacturing quality and product performance at is new manufacturing facility, Nova Motorsport transported 200 lorries of equipment from the former Avon factory in Melksham in the UK to Portugal. By utilising state-of-the-art mixing facilities, Nova Motorsport has recreated the championship-winning compounds previously mixed by Avon in Melksham. The brand adheres to the same stringent testing procedures and specifically designed lab test methods and uses the same technology, procedures, moulds and materials originally deployed by Avon.
The name of the cross-ply construction Avon ACB9 competition tyre originates from the codes the company gave to tyres and patterns—Avon Car Bias (ACB) and pattern NO.9. When it enters full-scale production in Q4 this year, the ACB9 tyre will be offered across Nova Motorsport’s global dealer network. The Traction Mileage tyre, which will also commence full-scale production in Q4 2024, will be supplied to classic Land Rover owners exclusively by British company Vintage Tyres, which specialises in the supply of period-correct tyres for vehicles from 1890s to 1990s.
James Weekley, Nova Motorsport Commercial Director, said: “When Nova Motorsport launched in January, the brand set an aggressive timeline to relaunch key products from the Avon Motorsport tyre portfolio of identical quality and performance standards. Acquiring the Camac tyre factory in May further underlined our commitment and ambition. Now, the production of the first Avon ACB9 competition tyre and the first Avon Traction Mileage in Portugal is proof positive for our dealers, customers, and stakeholders that we are firmly on track to bring the products they rely on back into full-scale production in record time.
“With a 20m Euro investment, Nova Motorsport is sparing no detail or expense in our mission to bring back the Avon Motorsport range with products that deliver the quality and performance that our customers demand. This milestone is just the beginning of our global strategy to reintroduce the vast majority of the legendary Avon Motorsport range. Our focus remains resolutely on industrialisation, quality assurance, and production of core product lines, ensuring strong supply availability in time for the 2025 motorsport season.”
Nova Motorsport is also on track to start full-scale production of the Avon CR6ZZ classic street-legal performance and competition radial tyre, a core Nova Motorsport Rallycross range and further Nova Motorsport Autocross products in Q4 2024.
Production of the Avon ACB10 Sport tyre (suitable fitment for lightweight competition vehicles), several Avon Historic Competition ranges, a core range of 60 Avon Hillclimb products and the first contemporary Nova Motorsport Circuit Racing tyres will commence in Q1 2025.
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