British GT Confirms Avon Tyres as New Supplier and Title Sponsor

26 May 2005

Avon Tyres has been confirmed as both the new title sponsor and tyre supplier to the prestigious British GT championship for the 2006-8 seasons inclusive.

Such is Avon's belief in the strength and depth of British GT that the Championship will sit at the heart of all Avon Tyres marketing in the UK during their contractual term. Consequently, British GT will benefit from having a title sponsor and tyre supplier who is committed to the delivery of world leading race tyres and technical service, as well as the building of the championship to new heights through powerful promotion.

Avon has a distinguished and proud heritage in motorsport, with a catalogue of successes with sportscars, including: FIA Sportcars, American Le Mans Series and with Panoz at Le Mans. All these successes demonstrate Avon's ability to produce race tyres that are proven winners.

Avon will support the British GT Championship with the largest technical personnel resource to date, as well as providing teams with full technical advice. To facilitate the transition of the British GT teams to Avon rubber, a Technical Transition Plan has already been created and communicated to the teams. Beyond the tyre supply service, Avon will promote and market British GT with an extensive media campaign - including print (leading trade and consumer publications), TV, radio and PR support to open up local media opportunities for the competing teams, drivers and sponsors.

By joining the British GT fold, Avon Tyres has once again re-engaged its historic acquaintance with sportscar racing at the highest, and most entertaining, level.

Julian Baldwin, director of marketing and motorsport at Avon Tyres, commented: "The sponsorship further confirms Avon's motorsport pedigree, and our willingness to keep the brand at the forefront of the best, and most demanding, championships in the world. The GT series delivers real-world appeal for Avon as a proven performance brand. We are committed to raising the profile of the GT series to the benefit of both participating teams and their sponsors."

British GT series promoter, Stephane Ratel, added: "Avon has built its reputation as one of the best contract motorsport tyre suppliers in the industry; both in terms of product and trackside technical support. With the promise that British GT will be at the heart of their 2006 marketing campaign, the championship can only benefit."

The partnership between Avon and British GT is a timely reminder of the appeal of GT racing. With a committed partner in Avon on board, British GT racing looks set for continued successful growth in the coming years. About Avon Tyres.

Avon Tyres Motorsport employs over 100 people in the UK alone, all of who contribute to a production of over 150,000 race tyres per annum.

Today, Avon's technical and production expertise means they regularly win more than 150 different race series every year across the world. From this position of strength, the firm has recently extended its motorsport reach with the acquisition of racing tyre businesses in Italy and the USA, where a state-of-the-art race tyre factory is under construction.

SRO

See 2005 series calendar for British GT Championship

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