Using the waiting time to look back: Luca Napolitano, responsible for the Fiat and Abarth brands in the EMEA region, and ERC coordinator Jean-Baptiste Ley take stock of the Abarth Rally Cup.
While motorsport fans wait for the engines to restart, Luca Napolitano, brand manager of Fiat and Abarth for the EMEA region, and ERC coordinator Jean-Baptiste Ley take stock of the sporting successes. The focus is on the Abarth 124 rally and the Abarth Rally Cup, which is held as part of the FIA European Rally Championship.
"In Abarth's 70-year history, vehicles from the brand have competed on all European race and rally tracks - and have often won. With almost 100 class victories, the 124 rally is currently the car to beat in the R-GT class," says Luca Napolitano, adding: "In the 2019 European Rally Championship, the 124 rally won 57 of 88 special stages." Due to these successes, Napolitano is very excited: "We can't wait to get going and win again."
The 124 rally was successfully used as a sports ambassador in 16 countries, in around 150 international races and in 25 national and international championships: The car achieved around 100 victories in the R-GT class and established itself as a benchmark for the competition in the 2018 and 2019 FIA R-GT Cup.
In total, the Abarth 124 rally has covered more than 300.000 competitive kilometers over three seasons so far. During the 2019 European Rally Championship (ERC) alone, which also includes the Abarth Rally Cup, more than 4.000 kilometers were covered - including 1.200 kilometers of time trials with a total of 88 special stages.
Jean-Baptiste Ley adds: “The Abarth Rally Cup also played an important role in the European Rally Championship last year. That’s why we’re looking forward to the start of the season and to seeing the strong 124 rally again.”
The Abarth Rally Cup actually proved to be a spectacular mixture of speed and adventure - and on a wide variety of terrain. Whether it was the flat, super-fast asphalt tracks of the Czech Barum Rally Zlín or the Rally Hungary, the serpentine routes of the Rally Islas Canarias or even the bumpy dirt roads of the Latvian Rally Liepāja and the Rally Poland - the one-make cup always impressed. This was especially true of the Rally di Roma Capitale and its capricious weather. After an exciting season, the Italian Andrea Nucita won the Abarth Rally Cup ahead of the Pole Dariusz Poloński and the Spaniard Alberto Monarri.
In 2019, the Abarth 124 rally once again dominated the FIA R-GT Championship: the brand with the scorpion in its logo took the first three places in the overall standings at the end of eight prestigious race weekends. The success of the Italian Enrico Brazzoli was outstanding, winning in Monte Carlo, the Tour de Corse and Sanremo.
Press contact:
Anne Wollek
Phone: +49 69 66988-450
Email: anne.wollek@fcagroup.com
