02.07.2004 Building on a successful tarmac test at Chobham last week, Paul Tod Rallying are looking to be in the thick of the action when the Jim Clark Memorial Rally kicks off this afternoon

Paul Tod Rallying aim to continue the momentum that they built up in the closing stages of the previous round, the Scottish International Rally, and a successful tarmac test at Chobham last week, when they roll down the starting ramp of the Jim Clark Memorial Rally later today.                         

Tod, who is currently fourth in the Fiat Stilo Cup after a number of mechanical problems on the first rounds of the championship, received a big boost to his confidence setting two fastest stage times last time out, and is confident of challenging the current leaders on the Scottish lanes.

The Jim Clark rally uses over 150 miles of public road, closed especially for the event, in the Kelso area, South West Scotland. It promises to be a true test of bravery and skill for the Stilo Cup competitors, only one of whom has competed on tarmac in the Stilos before. 

“We proved our speed on the Scottish,” says Tod. “We were disappointed with fourth, which didn’t reflect our performance at all, but we showed what we are capable of, given a clear run. 

"We’ve never competed on tarmac stages before, and it will all be new to us, but we are absolutely committed to getting a good result, which will catapult us right back into the battle for the lead. 

"We tested the car in tarmac trim at the recent Fiat Auto UK press day and are happy with the set-up we have reached. We are all really looking forward to the challenge!”

As part of Fiat Auto UK’s commitment to rallying, Paul Tod Rallying were invited to a rally press day at the Chobham test circuit in Surrey last Tuesday. 

The test day, which was centred around the Fiat Stilo Rally Cup 2004, was an opportunity for Paul to test his Fiat Stilo Abarth in gravel trim for the first time, and to showcase his skills, and the Stilo’s rallying credentials, to the media and Fiat UK’s own people.

It was a perfect day to test, dry but not too hot, and Paul got to grips with the car quickly, finding it’s limits and familiarising himself with the car’s handling on tarmac for the first time.

“Tarmac is very unforgiving,” says Tod. “You need to take exactly the right line at exactly the right speed, otherwise you either lose your momentum, which costs precious seconds, or you crash! On gravel there are usually ways to get out of trouble, but on the black stuff, you have to know exactly what your car is going to do, or you are likely to have a big accident.”

There was plenty more for the media to see, with the all-new Panda Abarth Rally concept, which is, unusually, a diesel rally car, a super 1600 Fiat Punto Abarth, and some historical Italian cars, a Fiat 124 Spider Abarth, a Lancia Integrale and an ex-Markku Alen Martini Racing Lancia 037 Rally which were all given a few runs around the circuit.

“It was a definite success from our point of view,” proclaims Tod. “It’s been a great day. I’ve had a lot of fun, and got through a lot of testing. 

"I also got to drive the Fiat Punto Abarth, which is the car available for the prize drive for the winner of the Stilo Cup. It is absolutely awesome! It was also my first time using a sequential six-speed gearbox, or a rally car with anything like that kind of power, and I want more! That is real motivation to win this year if ever we needed it.”