New indoor speed World Record attempt with Avon Tyres

Avon Tyres could play a vital part in the setting of a new indoor speed world record as British Autograss ace Phil Cooper aims to smash his own existing benchmark at the Autosport International show this weekend (Jan 13/14).

Cooper, the reigning Overall Series Points Champion of all classes in the 2006 British Autograss Series, set a new record of 82.05mph on a 210-metre track at Birmingham’s NEC, which is also the venue for the Autosport show, last month.

He said: “I don’t normally use Avons in the race series, because there isn’t a suitable tyre for the grass, but Waltham Services supplied me with Avon slick racing tyres for the first attempt.

“The tyres were tremendous, we had no problems at all with them. We cut one set to try and get some heat inside the rubber, and they worked an absolute treat. I’m delighted with the record and, if we can do it safely, we will try and break the record again at the Autosport show, and I’ll use Avon tyres then, too.”

Cooper will do a test run in the show’s Live Arena on Wednesday (Jan 10) to ascertain whether the track, which is a slightly different shape to the one he used previously, will provide a safe opportunity to attempt a new record.

December’s world-beating speed in Cooper’s Toyota-powered Autograss Special race machine was set in conjunction with Autocar magazine and the Autosport International show.

The results of the existing record will be submitted to the Guinness Book of World Records for approval and certification, meaning Avon Tyres could be an official record-breaker.