12.05.2004 Fiat in South Africa have made a return to racing with a team of three special series Palios running IN the highly competitive Production Car Championship

Fiat made its official return to South African motor racing at Killarney in Cape Town for round two of the Vodacom Power Tour last month. Three Fiat Palio special series cars, Gala, Rosso and Blu, are now competing in Class C of the 2004 South African Production Car Championship, although only two were ready in time for Killarney.

Fiat’s racing efforts began as a privateer dream last year when a few passionate staff members of Fiat Auto South Africa (FASA) decided to run a Fiat Palio in the regional Superhatch series.

The team, managed by Chris Botes and Theunis Eloff, went on to win the 2003 Class C Championship, their success culminating in an ambitious plan to contest the 2004 South African Production Car Championship.

The team realised that competing nationally was going to be a far more serious project than regional racing and approached seasoned racer and team manager Mike O'Sullivan. Fiat, already entrenched in national motor racing through the exploits of the Alfa Romeo Squadra Corse GTAs, rendered assistance and has become the title sponsor of the Palio Racing Team.

Mike O'Sullivan, as well as preparing the cars, is piloting the Fiat Palio Gala (C107) while Eloff, who won the regional Class C Superhatch championship last year, is driving the Palio Blu (C111). Finally, seasoned bike racer come car racer, Brad Annasis is handling the third Palio Rosso (C123).

“A lot of effort has been put into this project,” commented Theunis Eloff prior to Killarney. “We are committed to successfully campaigning the three Fiats this year with a combination of experience and youthful enthusiasm. It is great to know that the team started because of a lot passion for the sport and for the brand.”

FASA is also strongly committed to the success of the venture. “We believe the Palio Racing Team compliments the Fiat brand very well and exists because of the passion people have for the brand,” says Giorgio Gorelli, managing director of Fiat Auto SA.

With only two cars hastily completed the team headed for Killarney. Engine problems hindered Annasis' hopes of qualifying his Palio Rosso well, however his blown motor was replaced for Saturday’s race. Eloff, who had never raced at the circuit before was also having his first outing in the Palio Blu, but managed to qualify mid-field in a strong 17-car field in Class C.

The Palio Racing Team’s spirited efforts were thwarted in Race one by accidents as Eloff was T-boned early in the race, dropping him back down the order. He managed however to claw his way back up to finish in sixth place.

Brad Annasis' mechanical bad luck continued with a broken gearbox mounting during the first heat forcing him to retire.

Race two saw mechanical trouble again for Annasis and in the interests of saving the car, the Palio Rosso was withdrawn. Eloff was again in the wars, this time getting hit from behind by John Williams. Eloff’s quicker Palio Blu made a great effort to pass Williams again, the latter by now leaking fuel onto the track and limiting grip for Eloff. He eventually overtook, only to be pushed off again, and sliding down to eighth place.

The spectacular racing in Class C had the 21,000 spectators on their feet. Shane Williams in the Trident Press Ford Ikon won the first heat challenged strongly by Dave Compton's Toyota Jazz and Angus Thompson in a VW CitiGolf. Compton followed by the Fords of Miguel Pasqaulli and Fanie de Bruin won the second race.

“We are happy with our progress from Kyalami,” said Theunis Eloff who retained sixth position overall, getting points in the bag. “First time out in the brand new Palios and we showed their potential for the rest of the season.”

The full complement of three Fiat Palios made their appearance for the first time at Kyalami for round three of the SA Production Car Championship the weekend before last. Mike O’Sullivan finally getting to join the fray in a third car.

Annasis in the Palio Rosso managed to return a sixth place in class while team mate Eloff was battling with a damaged set-up after being sandwiched and bumped. Although the car was off the pace as a result, Eloff still managed to finish tenth.

All three Fiat Palio Special Series were on the grid for Heat Two. Eloff battled in the early stages to pass the Class B Honda of Dirk Laurence before the safety car was brought out when Anthony Taylor hit the pit wall. Meanwhile Annasis and O’Sullivan struggled with engine problems.

Eloff commented: “We are excited that we managed to make progress in terms of pace from the previous race. The cars are still in their very early development stage and we realise we have certain shortcomings in terms of power, but we are working on the engine management to sort the problem out and bring the engine in line with the already high levels of chassis performance.”

The team is impressed by the way the special series Palios are handling and confident about progress that will be gained from development before the team travels to the Aldo Scribante for the next round of the championship at the end of this month.