Cooper enters fifth British F3 season

Cooper Tires has launched its fifth successive year as exclusive tyre supplier to the Cooper Tires British Formula 3 Series. The company has been involved for more than 30 of the championship’s 60 years, having supplied Avon brand tyres before moving to Cooper in 2009. The tyre supplier exemplifies British F3’s calibre with the high number of drivers who have graduated to Formula One – more than any other championship. Jackie Stewart, Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna and Mika Hakkinen have all been both British F3 and Formula One World Champions. It is also the oldest Formula 3 category in the world.

Avon Tyres Motorsport general manager, Paul Coates, said: “British Formula 3 has a rich and colourful history as one of motorsport’s most exciting and important championships and Cooper is proud to be part of it. Despite smaller grids in 2012, the racing was second-to-none and we all hope that the restructured calendar for this year will attract a similarly high level of racing at some great circuits.”

The 2012 Cooper Tires British Formula 3 Championship saw some fantastic racing, with the top three drivers entering the final weekend separated by just six points. In the end, it was Carlin’s Jack Harvey who came from behind to seal the title at the final race of an action-packed season and Harvey became the first British champion since Mike Conway back in 2006, while F3 powerhouse – Carlin – took its fifth successive team title. Harvey moves up to GP3 in 2013 as the British F3 Championship continues to be a springboard to the Formula One feeder series.

In 2013, the series will feature a restructured calendar, with four key dates – three of which take place at FIA Formula One Grand Prix circuits – Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps and the Nurburgring. The fourth round will be held at the ever-popular Brands Hatch circuit alongside the Avon Tyres British GT Championship.

In addition to British F3, Cooper will this year be a partner of the FIA European Rallycross Championship and will sponsor rising star, Timmy Hansen, in the series for the forthcoming season.