Avon celebrates 23 rallycross titles – in just one year

From the Wiltshire Times, first published Sunday 23rd Dec 2007.

Melksham-based Avon Tyres is celebrating this year as racers using the company's products have won a 23 rallycross titles across Europe in 2007.

One of the toughest forms of competition for tyres, rallycross requires manufacturers to prepare a compound that not only copes with racing on both gravel and asphalt, but also enables cars with as much as 500bhp to accelerate from 0-60mph in just 2.4 seconds.

In the world's premier series, the FIA European Rallycross Championship, Lars Larsson, Kenneth Hansen and Andreas Eriksson took the top three Division One places on Avon tyres, while Michael de Keersmacher and Jos Sterkens took the Division 1A and Supercup titles respectively.

Beyond that, in every national championship where competitors had an open tyre choice, Avon proved itself as a winner.

A string of national titles came in countries from Finland to the Czech Republic, Belgium to Estonia. And, thanks to the manufacturer's ability to supply tyres to any type of car, the titles came across all categories - not just the top classes.

"We're incredibly proud of our record in rallycross," said Roger Everson, sales and marketing manager for Avon Motorsport.

"The fact that competitors from championships that use a sole tyre supplier were consistently coming to us for their rubber at open races like the Rallycross Superprix proved that we were the tyre everyone wanted to use."

Avon Tyres Motorsport Rallycross Champions 2007

FIA European Rallycross Championship:

Division One:

• 1st Lars Larsson (Skoda Fabia T16 4x4 )
• 2nd Kenneth Hansen (Citroen C4 T16 4x4)
• 3rd Andreas Eriksson (Ford Fiesta ST T16 4x4)

Division 1A

• 1st Michael de Keersmacher (Opel Corsa C)
• 2nd Jaroslav Kalny (Peugeot 206 )
• 3rd Olivier Bossard (Citroen C2 )

Supercup

• Jos Sterkens (Ford Fiesta)

FIA Central European Zone Rallycross Trophy

Division One:

• Peter Ramler (Seat Leon Cupra)

Division 1A:

• Zdenek Cermak (Skoda Fabia)

FIA North European Zone Rallycross Championship

Division One:

• 1st Janis Bogdanovics (Ford Focus 4x4)
• 2nd Aldis Zebergs (Toyota Corrolla 4x4 )
• 3rd Kazimicras Gudziunas (Ford Puma 4x4)

Super 2000:

• 1st Reinis Safonovs (VW Golf)
• 2nd Vaidas Navickas (VW Golf)

Open Class:

• 1st Silvo Viitanen (Volvo S40)
• 2nd Ilgonis Krumins (BMW M3)
• 3rd Valdur Reinsalu (Ford Focus)

National Rallycross Championships + Events

UK Rallycross Open Championship

• Overall Mark Watson (Citroen Xsara T16 4x4

UK Rallycross Superprix:

• Overall Kenneth Hansen (Citroen C4 T16 4x4)

London Masters:

• Overall Per Eklund (Saab 93 T16 4 x 4)

Austrian Rallycross Championship

Division One:

• Peter Ramler (Seat Leon Cupra)

Division 1A:

• Zdenek Cermak (Skoda Fabia)

Belgian Rallycross Championship

• Supercar Patrick Van Mechelen (Subaru Impreza T16 4x4 )

Division 1A:

• Thierry Cokelaere (Honda Civic)

Czech Republic Rallycross Championship

Division One:

• Marek Zeman (Skoda Fabia T16 4x4)

Division 1A:

• Zdenek Cermak (Skoda Fabia)

Dutch Rallycross Championship

• Supercar Patrick Van Mechelen (Subaru Impreza T16 4x4)

Division 1A:

• Thierry Cokelaere (Honda Civic)

Estonian Rallycross Championship

• ERK 2500 Kalle Kutt (Honda Civic)

Irish Rallycross Championship

• Supercar Derrick Jobb (Escort Cosworth 4x4)

Swedish Rallycross Championship

Division One:

• Lars Larsson (Skoda Fabia T16 4x4)

Division 1A:

• Niklas Hagstrom (Honda Civic Type R).

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