Wiltshire’s Nova Motorsport has successfully concluded the first UK track test of the first new Avon ACB9 Formula Ford tyres produced at Nova Motorsport’s manufacturing facility in Portugal.
During the test conducted with independent drivers, the new Nova Motorsport-manufactured tyres matched, or bettered, the original Avon Motorsport products manufactured in the Avon factory in Melksham across all technically quantifiable and driver-feedback parameters.
The track test of the first Nova Motorsport-manufactured Avon products took place at Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit, on the three-mile 300 circuit, on Friday 16th August, in punishingly hot temperatures. Two highly experienced and respected classic and historic Formula Ford, independently selected by the Historic Sports Car Club (HSCC), carried out the testing duties during four 11-lap sessions.
Simon Hadfield, in a 1981 Van Diemen RF81 and Benn Tilley, in a 1971 Merlyn Mk20, conducted back-to-back ‘blind’ tests of the new Nova Motorsport Avon products against the original Avon Motorsport ACB9 tyres.
Jack Price, Nova Motorsport Product Category Manager, said, “We chose the Snetterton 300 track because of the high demand that the three-mile circuit’s blend of fast-flowing corners, medium bends and tight hairpins placed upon the tyres. To ensure the drivers had no preconceptions, even on a subconscious level, we didn’t tell them which tyres were fitted to each car for each session. That way, we ensured 100 per cent unbiased feedback and that we heard what we needed to hear, not what the drivers might have thought we wanted to hear.”
The tests focussed on every conceivable parameter, with wear, pressure and temperature analysed after each 11-lap session. Benn and Simon’s feedback on tyre performance was also essential. They could tell the Nova Motorsport team how quickly the tyres reached their operating window and how consistently they maintained that window, plus discuss the quality of grip and the car’s balance. The drivers also revealed how much feel and feedback the tyre provided – essential for quick, consistent laps.
Simon Hadfield, CEO of Simon Hadfield Motorsport, said, “I have been running on Avon tyres my entire racing life virtually and never had a quality complaint. A car must be able to talk to you, unlike a video game, and an Avon tyre lets a car do precisely that. You don’t have to even think about it. You can just get in and drive.
“Right at the sharp end, when the tyres are up to optimum temperature, there’s no difference between the original Avon tyres and the new ones made in Portugal. And from what Benn and I have experienced here today, it’s very clear that Nova Motorsport means business.”
For the fourth and final session of the day, the Merlyn Formula Ford car driven by Tilley underwent a small rear set-up change to further dial in the Nova Motorsport tyres to the track conditions. And while previously, the performance of the new Nova Motorsport tyres equalled that of the original Avon products; they bettered it on this occasion.
Benn Tilley, 2018 Classic Formula Ford Champion & 2020 Classic Formula 3 Champion, said, “On the Avon tyres, my fastest time was 2:05.5, but on the Nova Motorsport tyres, it was 2:05.4. A tenth of a second may not sound like much, but that is precisely the margin with which I won the Brands Hatch Grand Prix earlier this month. When you are racing to win, a tenth of a second can be everything.”
The test, conducted by Nova Motorsport’s highly experienced Trackside Engineering Team, came just days after successful shakedown trials of the tyres in Portugal, which were produced in record time following Nova Motorsport’s acquisition of the Camac tyre factory in May.
Jack Price, Nova Motorsport Product Category Manager, added, “Formula Ford is a key strategic pillar for Nova Motorsport, and we have spared no resources to ensure we offer the best possible tyres. To have this level of validation from two such experienced and influential Formula Ford drivers with the first tyres produced in Portugal is hugely gratifying.
“The fact that the new Nova Motorsport tyres are right on par with the Melksham-made Avon products is a testament to everyone in the company’s hard work, vision, and meticulous planning to achieve these results in such a short time. We now look forward to continuing the test programme at Brands Hatch while rapidly developing more new motorsport products to support customers and drivers across numerous disciplines to ensure strong supply for the 2025 season and far beyond.”
The next phase of Nova Motorsport’s test and validation programme for the ACB9 Formula Ford tyre will take place at Brands Hatch on Friday 23rd August.
Nova Motorsport is also on track to start full-scale production of the Avon CR6ZZ classic road-legal performance and competition radial tyre, a core Nova Motorsport Rallycross range and further Nova Motorsport Autocross products in Q4 2024.
Production of the Avon ACB10, several Avon Historic Competition ranges, a core range of 60 Avon Hillclimb products and the first contemporary Nova Motorsport Circuit Racing tyres will commence in Q1 2025.
To ensure the highest possible levels of consistent manufacturing quality and product performance at its new manufacturing facility, Nova Motorsport transported 200 lorries of equipment from the former Avon factory in Melksham in the UK to Portugal. By utilising state-of-the-art mixing facilities, Nova Motorsport has recreated the championship-winning compounds previously mixed by Avon in Melksham. The brand adheres to the same stringent testing procedures and specifically designed lab test methods and uses the same technology, procedures, moulds and materials originally deployed by Avon.
Pictured above: Nova Motorsport Avon ACB9 Snetteron Test on 16th August 2024
