The Fiat Stilo Abarth continued to show its potential, in just its second outing, at the final round of the 2004 SA Production Car Championship at Kyalami last weekend.

Veteran racing driver and Palio Racing Team manager Mike O’Sullivan debuted the brand new Fiat Stilo Abarth in Class B in East London in October, promptly putting the new car on the podium behind the formidable Minis. Works Mini driver, Shaun van der Linde, was crowned the SA Production Car Champion.

“While there is a lot of development work to do on the car, the two races we have done have shown the incredible potential of the car,” said Michael Burkhart, general manager for marketing at Fiat Auto SA. “With two Stilo Abarths next year, we hope to give the competition a little more to think about if we work hard during the off-season.”

One of the Palio Racing Team drivers, Dawie Brough, will partner O’Sullivan in the two works Fiat Stilo Abarths next year.

Fiat’s racing activities in Class B and Class C will be unified under the Abarth Racing Team banner and complete a line-up of seven works entries from Fiat Auto SA in every class of the championship.

“We are serious about supporting local motorsport,” said Giorgio Gorelli, managing director of Fiat Auto SA. “We are here to win and create great motor racing for the South African public. Our efforts so far this year with Fiat and Alfa Romeo have achieved both of those goals. Next year we will do it in three classes and hopefully win some championships.”