Fiat will be back on the ice in France this winter when the fearsome four wheel drive 350bhp 3.0-litre V6 Fiat Stilo 'silhouette' ice-racer returns to the action for the 2006 Trophée Andros. The purpose-built Stilo ice-racer, with the full backing and input of Fiat France, first came to wide attention when it took part in the 2005 Trophée Andros, held last winter. It arrived with an impressive bang, as Jean Philippe Dayrut (739pts), who was drafted into the Team AS Events Fiat Stilo, finished overall runner-up in the series to undisputed ice-racing king, Yvan Muller (786pts). Meanwhile former single-seater pilot Franck Lagorce (706pts) came home fourth in the final table, just behind French racing legend Alain Prost (730pts) and just in from of Dayrut's team mate, Steve Stievenart (693pts).

Fiat France's highly successful arrival on the Trophée Andros scene was down to Christian Petit, who through his 'Sport Garage' team planned and developed the Stilo 'ice-racer' concept, while last year's lead driver was the veteran Philippe de Korsak, who had previously shared ice driving duties with Alain Prost. These two experienced people then persuaded Fiat France to back the venture.

The racing car itself used a lightweight Stilo-look alike 'silhouette' chassis. Underneath it features a tubular spaceframe chassis developed by the highly regarded Tork Engineering concern, using the latest computer aided design methods. A highly-developed 24-valve, 3.0-litre V6 engine (which is drawn from the Fiat Ulysse MPV, to fit the series' technical requirements that state the engine must be Fiat-sourced), is mated to a competition 6-speed sequential gearbox and four wheel drive, pumped out 350bhp, all of which had to be put down through narrow 16-inch 'knobbly' tyres onto a surface which comprises of pure ice!

The whole completed package - the body is made from weight-saving composite materials - weighed in at the series limit of 950kgs. For the 2006 series the Stilo racer has undergone further development over the course of the last year, to make it more powerful and more receptive on the all-ice tracks.
 

Ice racing is a highly popular winter racing activity in France, and the Andros Trophée has grown from strength to strength since its inception in 1985, when it was set up by a pair of national motor racing drivers seeking a winter activity. In the intervening two decades it has found its way into the hearts of French motorsport enthusiasts' with its combination of style, excitement, a required scientific precision, and an array of stars that have been drawn by its allure. These have included Ari Vatanen, Jacques Laffite, Bernard Darniche, Partick Tambay, Jean-Louis Schlesser and Alain Prost, who will in fact be back this winter for his third helping of the series.

For the eight-round 2006 Trophée Andros - which kicks of at Val Thorens on 3rd and 4th December - Franck Lagorce and Philippe de Korsak will be back behind the wheel of an official Fiat Stilo entry, while a second factory car will be entered for Margot Laffite and Justine Monnier-Chicherit in the Trophée Andros Féminin, which will be contested by 25 female races at seven events. After the opening round at Val Thorens, the series moves to Pas de la Casa in Andorra the following weekend, and Alpe d'Huez the weekend after. A Christmas break then takes place before the teams reconvene at the Isola 2000/Alpes Maritimes ski resort on 7th and 8th January 2006. Then it's on to Lans en Vercors/Villard de Lans the following weekend before January's programme is rounded out at Serre Chevalier on 21st and 22nd before the final event takes place at Clermont/Superbesse  on 27th and 28th. Lastly a special "Super Final" event will take place at the Stade de France on 18th March.