Dates for Trofeo Abarth 500 GB race series announced

The one-make series is the British version of Europe’s highly successful International Trofeo Cup which had a superb 2009 season at some of the continent’s legendary circuits such as Valencia, Brno and Imola. Now the potent new 500 Assetto Corse race cars will feature in top meetings at Britain’s best-known circuits starting next month (April).

The sports car’s 1368cc 16-valve turbocharged engine develops 190bhp at 6500rpm and torque of 300Nm at 3000rpm to give the Assetto Corse – which weighs just 970kg – sparkling performance on the track. A sporty body kit and 17-inch sports wheels with Michelin 20/61-17 tyres add to the car’s incredible performance, handling and stability.

“The Assetto Corse has shown on the track what we believed right from the start – that it would make a fabulous race car,” says Ivan Gibson, head of Abarth UK. “And now we have the mouth-watering prospect of seeing these cars battling it out in the UK.

“Race fans are going to love this series I am sure, and we are very much looking forward to an exciting first season here.”

The new Trofeo Abarth 500 GB series calendar is as follows:

4 April Oulton Park
18 April Silverstone
23 May Cadwell Park
27 June Snetterton
25 July Silverstone
5 September Brands Hatch
24 October Monza