The Fiat Punto Abarth Series was launched in 2002 and has grown from strength to strength into a Championship that holds its own amongst the best in Irish Motorport today.
The Abarth was developed in 2001 in conjunction with Murray Motorsport, Steve Griffin Motorsport and AMF Motorsport, and from humble beginnings it has evolved into the competition car as we know it today. It was based on a Punto HGT Model and moulded into a racing car by stripping out the interior, adding a few fundamental competition extras and tuning the standard 1800cc 16V HGT engine to around 170 bhp.
The series attracts a diverse range of participants. This includes those from other motorsport disciplines who favour track racing as being less restrictive in terms of time and budget than many of the alternatives. The Abarth Cup is also unique in that it throws up challenges both for those with years of experience, or those with none at all. The 2008 entry list is a testament.
The competition this year will be based mainly at Mondello Park with a brief foray into the UK in July, heading first to Anglesea and then to Kirkistown. The championship kicked off on 26TH Arpil and will finish with a flourish on 13th September at the Leinster Trophy meeting on the international circuit at Mondello.
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