21/04/2010
NEWS STORY
Through its parent company - Cooper Tire - Avon has confirmed that it has been approached with regards replacing Bridgestone from next season.
At the end of 2009, Bridgestone, which has been the sole tyre supplier to F1 since 2007, announced its intention to leave the sport at the end of this season. Coming hot on the heels of the departure of Honda and Toyota, this effectively ends Japanese interest in the sport.
Former supplier Michelin, which left F1 at the end of 2006 as its relationship with the FIA went from bad to worse, has expressed an interest in returning but it is believed that the teams are unhappy with some of the conditions being set by the French manufacturer, both financial and technical.
Today, a spokesman for Cooper admitted that the American giant is looking at the possibility of entering F1.
"As a major motorsport tyre manufacturer Cooper Tire, through its Avon Tyres Motorsport operation, has been approached to supply Formula One," said the spokesman. "The company is in discussion with the relevant parties and cannot comment further at this stage."
Speaking in China at the weekend, Ferrari team boss, Stefano Domenicali, said that while a final decision in not imminent, the situation should be a lot clearer by the time the F1 circus arrives in Barcelona for the Spanish GP.