Fiat wins European Rally Championship

A factory-run Fiat Grande Punto Rally, built to Super2000 regulations and driven by Giandomenico Basso and Mitia Dotta, has won the 2006 FIA European Rally Championship with three rounds still remaining.

The title was clinched at the weekend, (5/6 August) when the Grande Punto scored a decisive victory in the Rally Vinho da Madeira. Setting fastest special stage times on

11 of the 19 tarmac tests, Basso led the event from the second stage through to the finish.

The victory in Madeira means that Fiat has now clinched its fourth FIA European Rally Championship crown, following in the footsteps of Raffaele Pinto (Fiat 124 Sport Spider) in 1972; Maurizio Verini (Fiat Abarth 124 Rally) in 1975; and Adartico Vudafieri (Fiat 131 Abarth) in 1981.

The 2006 season has been a strong one for both Fiat and Basso, with four wins out of the six events that have taken place so far this year, and the perfect response to last year’s second place in the same championship. Two more events remain, the Barum Rally Zlin in the Czech Republic (25-27 August) and the Sanremo Rally in Italy (14-16 September).

Fiat Grande Punto is also competing in two other championships: the new International Rally Challenge, which is also led by Basso with one more event to run, and the Italian Rally Championship which is currently led by Paolo Andreucci in another Grande Punto.

Fiat Grande Punto Rally:

Debut on Rally del Ciocco, Italian Rally Championship, March 2006.

The work of designing the Grande Punto Rally began in January 2005 and the vehicle has been built to comply with the new FIA Super 2000 international regulations that cover four-wheel drive vehicles with 2000cc normally aspirated engines.

Based on the standard production model, Fiat Grande Punto Rally produces a maximum power output of 270 bhp at 8250 rpm. It uses a sequential six-speed gearbox driving a four-wheel drive system, with front, central and rear mechanical differentials.

According to the rules, the transmission, casing components and internal gearbox parts must all be supplied by a single manufacturer.

The car is innovative due to the materials used and its sophisticated design systems. All this plus a thrilling engine note and limited use of electronics (particularly in the transmission) are the ingredients that make the Fiat Grande Punto a spectacular car over all types of terrain.