New Caterham Seven rolls out on Avon CR500

Avon Tyres has a long association with another British brand famed for its sporting activities, Caterham Cars, and in keeping with this relationship the tyre brand has announced its CR500 as the original equipment 13” tyres for the latest incarnation – the first new edition in two years – of Caterham’s Seven range, the Supersport. Derived directly from the race car that competes in the Caterham Supersport championship, the road-going model borrows the track version’s performance essentials and then fine-tuned for the road. Priced £19,995 in self-build form, the 140bhp Supersport remains true to Colin Chapman’s 1950s concept of lightweight, minimalist machines that place outstanding handling characteristics.

Julian Baldwin, managing director of Cooper Tire Europe, which manufactures the Avon brand, said: “Our relationship with Caterham Cars is a long and fruitful one. The Seven just keeps getting better and has now cemented itself as the ultimate driving experience for the road. We are proud that our tyres are the trusted choice for Caterham and its army of hardcore enthusiasts.”

Caterham Cars engineering director, Mark Edwards, said: “The current CR500 specification was developed exclusively for Caterham and has become the standard choice for Seven use, especially in high-performance applications. It’s track-biased, yet road-legal characteristics make it perfect for the Supersport.

“The SP/300.R was our first brand new model for 15 years. But the Supersport is all about our roots. The Seven was born out of motorsport and this new model illustrates our values.”

Avon’s CR500 was developed specifically for the demands placed on tyres by Caterham’s lightweight, powerful sportscars. It was originally developed as a bespoke tyre for the original Superlight R500 but is now standard fitment across Caterham’s entire Superlight range. Derived from Avon’s motorsport range of products, the road-legal CR500s have a track-inspired, aggressive tread pattern designed to shift water and offer increased grip in wet conditions.

Weighing 520kg, the Ford powerplant engine will propel the Supersport from 0-60mph in 4.9 seconds and will achieve a top speed of 120mph. The Supersport has been unveiled just over two months after Caterham launched its extreme new sports racer, the SP/300.R, which sits on Cooper motorsport racing slicks.

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