A motorsport firm based near Bath is to make tyres under the iconic Avon Racing brand after acquiring a specialist Portuguese manufacturer.
Nova Motorsport recently bought assets linked to the former Avon Tyres business, including the brand licence for the manufacture and sale of a broad range of motorsport tyres under the Avon Motorsport and Avon Racing names.
High-performance Avon Tyres were produced in Melksham for more than 100 years. The factory, the area’s largest employer for decades, closed shortly before Christmas after being wound down over recent years.
Now following Nova Motorsport’s acquisition of Portugal's only tyre manufacturer Carmac, the Avon Racing brand will be seen again on racetrack across the globe.
The firm is being backed by parent company, Westbury, Wilts-based rubber compounder SPC Rubber Group and managing director Paul Hallas.
The leadership team at Nova, which has its global technical centre at Holt, near Melksham, includes former head of Avon Motorsport Paul Coates.
The firm is now recruiting global experts in the field of motorsport tyres for its in-house research and development department.
Paul Hallas, who is also MD of SPC Rubber Group – where he has worked for 23 years – said Nova Motorsport would eclipse industry standards for bespoke tyre technology and speed to market by focusing solely on low-volume racing and specialist tyres.
With ambitions to become the number one choice for specialist high-performance, low-volume automotive manufacturers, connoisseurs and private collectors, the firm plans to “flip the motorsport tyre business marketing model on its head by focusing solely on low-volume racing and specialist tyres as the core of our commercial offering”, he added.
Its range will include superior premium competition and specialist tyres that will “deliver unforgettable experiences and exemplary performance on the racetrack and beyond”.
Nova plans to announce its first products, along with international partnerships, later this year.
Nova Motorsport commercial director James Weekley said Camac’s acquisition represented “a fundamental milestone in the execution of Nova Motorsport’s global business strategy”.
“It not only solidifies our position as a leading independent tyre manufacturer for the motorsport and specialist tyre industries, but critically, it facilitates and accelerates the reindustrialisation of the Avon Motorsport product range,” he added.
“Nova Motorsport is proud to have recently employed some of the finest technical experts and engineers in the tyre and motorsport industries.
“Our focus remains steadfast on ensuring ultimate quality and performance in our products while continually advancing innovation in tyre technology."
Nova Motorsport chief technical officer Mike Lynch said as well as supporting existing customers and markets, Nova was also uniquely positioned to collaborate with companies seeking bespoke tyres for competition and specialist applications as it offered unparalleled levels of ultra-rapid R&D, time-to-market and customer support.”
Avon Tyres was part of Melksham-based manufacturing group Avon Rubber (now Avon Protection) until 1997, when it was bought by US firm Cooper Tire & Rubber Company.
The plant continued to employ around 650 people producing high-performance car, SUV, 4×4 and motorcycle tyres under the Avon and Cooper brands.
However, after 112 years of tyre production, the site was closed on 20 December last year when the remaining 350 employees were made redundant.
