Cooper wins herald expansion in endurance rallying

Cooper Tire Europe says it has expanded its involvement in endurance rallying, with its 4×4 products victorious in two high-profile events this month. In the Dakar, Spaniard Xavier Foj won the T2 production class in his Discoverer S/T MAXX-shod Toyota Land Cruiser 150. Meanwhile, ex-Formula 1 driver and endurance rally veteran, Jean-Louis Schlesser, won his fourth consecutive Africa Eco Race, using Cooper’s Discoverer STT tyre for the first time.

Schlesser and his co-driver Cyril Esquirol tackled 5,000km between Nador in Morocco and Kebemer in Senegal, finishing three hours ahead of their nearest rival. Schlesser said: “This year, the course was particularly hard and demanding. It was a beautiful victory and the weather did not help us, including three days of sand storms. I wish to thank my team, which did a great job and, of course, the partners who chose to trust me.”

The Discoverer STT features the company’s Armor-Tek3 heavy-duty carcass, with three plies of protection against impact damage. Its tread pattern improves traction on hard surfaces, while offering better grip on soft sand. Tapered stone ejectors will help prevent stones and debris lodging in the tread and a strategically-placed rim flange protector also helps protect the wheel and tyre from off-road hazards.

In the Dakar rally, Foj and his co-driver Jordi Cervantes tackled 9,000km across in Argentina, Chile and Peru. They ran on one of Cooper’s toughest off-road tyres, the Discoverer S/T MAXX, which will be introduced in Europe next month. Its compound and large tread area provide improved grip in all conditions, according to Cooper, while the alternating rib pattern helps to discharge loose stones. Like the STT Cooper’s ArmorTek3 construction works to improve the Discoverer S/T MAXX’s durability, by delivering strength to the sidewall and tread area.

The STT is available in a full range of sizes, from 15” to 18” rims while the S/T MAXX is M&S rated and available in sizes ranging from 16” to 18”.

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