Cooper Tire has developed an online game to celebrate its expanded involvement in the Dakar Rally 2011. Cooper Tire has doubled its backing of the Toyota Cooper Tire squad for the 2011 running of the event, with the Land Cruiser KXR of Xavier Foj and Pablo Jaton joined by a Hi-Lux, piloted by Jesus Calleja and Ignacio Santamaria. Last year, the single car of Foj/Jaton finished second in the T2 Production class.
As of January 17 a new president will be at the helm of Cooper Tire & Rubber’s North America Tire Operations. Responsibility for the US$2 million plus operation, which produces passenger car and light truck tyres, primarily for sale in the US replacement market, will be transferred from Cooper Tire & Rubber chairman, CEO and President Roy Armes to Christopher E. Ostrander. In addition to this new post, Ostrander will also serve on the company's Executive Committee and as an officer of Cooper Tire & Rubber Company.
On January 1, Cooper Tire & Rubber increased its level of ownership in its affiliated Mexican operation from 38 to 58 per cent. The tyre maker states this increased ownership in Corporacion de Occidente SA de CV. has been made as part of its long-term strategy to produce high quality yet cost competitive products. As a result of this transaction, the Mexican entity will be fully consolidated in the company’s financial results for this year.
Cooper Tire will continue as the official control tyre supplier and title sponsor of the prestigious British F3 International Series until at least the end of the 2014 season. Cooper took over the supply and sponsorship of British F3 in 2009 from its Avon Tyres brand, which had previously been sole supplier to the series for 27 years, and now supplies the British GT Championship. The Cooper Tire British F3 International Series is widely acknowledged as one of the toughest domestic single-seater championships in the world and is a recognised route to the pinnacle of the sport for aspiring Formula 1 drivers, having produced 2009 FIA F1 World champion Jenson Button, and current F1 drivers Mark Webber, Rubens Barrichello, 2008 British F3 champion Jaime Algersuari, and newly signed Sauber driver and 2007 National Class champion Sergio Perez.
Cooper Tire will back an expanded team in the 2011 Dakar Rally as it aims to go one better than its debut attempt in the 2010 event. The Toyota Cooper Tire outfit finished second in the T2 Diesel class and 16th overall this January, but veteran Dakar pilot, Xavier Foj, is aiming to take the class victory in 2011. Spaniard Foj and his co-driver, Pablo Jaton, will once again compete for the team in a Toyota Land Cruiser KXR and they will be joined by a second duo – Spanish TV personality Jesus Calleja and co-driver, Ignacio Santamaria.
Since Avon Tyres began supplying control tyres to the British GT Championship in 2006 drivers have clocked up some 200,000 racing miles on its products. Now they’ll have the chance to add a few more miles to the tally following the signing of an agreement to extend the tyre maker’s title sponsorship and control tyre supply until the end of the 2014 season. Avon’s first outing under the new agreement will be at Oulton Park on April 23 to 25 next year.
The British Racing and Sports Car Club has chosen Avon Tyres to supply tyres to both of its Formula Ford 1600 Championships for the next three years, and will also support the club to help it promote its showpiece event – the Formula Ford Festival. “Naturally, we’re delighted to have secured the agreement to supply FF1600 for another three years,” said Paul Coates, general manager, Avon Tyres Motorsport. “We’re very keen to work with the BRSCC on further initiatives to secure the long-term future of FF1600.”
Cooper Tire has announced the first ‘SmartWay’ verification of a member of its commercial vehicle tyre range. The company’s Roadmaster RM180 long haul steer tyre has been added to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership list of low rolling resistance commercial vehicle tyres after meeting the required criteria.
The Genuine Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship has extended its deal with Avon Tyres, with the brand continuing as the championship’s control tyre supplier for at least the next three years. Avon’s tyres will be distributed and engineered through the season by Gordon Leven Motorsport Tyres, which continues its 15-year involvement supplying Avon rubber to the championship. All tyres will be manufactured at Cooper Tire’s plant in Melksham, England.
Cooper Tire has been awarded the Global Media Award from the 2010 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. More than 2,000 new products were registered at the show, and from these a judging panel of 26 journalists from 16 countries selected a small number of products based on their potential impact and commercial success. Cooper’s Discoverer S/TMAXX, due to be launched February 2011, was chosen because of its all terrain performance capabilities.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has reported a 3.6 per cent reduction in operating profit, making $67.1 million, though there was a 10 per cent rise in total company sales for the third quarter (ending 30 September) of 2010 in year-on-year comparisons. Net income attributable to Cooper Tire reached $45 million, a decrease of $2 million from the same period in 2009. Net sales were $883 million, an increase of $80 million from the prior year. The Company reported net income of 71 cents per share on a diluted basis.
Cooper Tire Europe has announced a pair of new products designed specifically to cope with the UK’s winter motoring conditions. The Wiltshire-based company’s latest high-performance tyres for winter, the WM-SA2 and WM-ST3, are available now in sizes ranging from 13” to 16”.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company today announced a quarterly dividend of 10.5 cents per share on common stock, payable 30 December, 2010, to stockholders of record at the close of business 2 December, 2010. This will mark the 155th consecutive quarterly dividend paid by the company.
Fifteen-year-old American, Sage Karam, has marked himself out as a race star of the future by dominating the 2010 Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda. Sanctioned by the IRL, the USF2000 National Championship is part of the IRL’s “Road to Indy” ladder system and was restarted this year, with Cooper immediately initiated as the sole tyre supplier to the series.
Cooper Tire is getting involved with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s October “Think Pink” campaign in the USA. “Cooper is thrilled to join hands with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation to support and raise awareness of this disease that affects not only women, but the men in their lives, as well,” said Dave Craig, Cooper's director of channel and consumer development. “The Professional Bull Riders is a wonderful demonstration of this, proving that men are just as passionate about fighting breast cancer and are not afraid to show their true colours — pink.”
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