Michael Burkhart, General Manager for Marketing of Fiat Auto South Africa said, “With eight Fiats entered into the Production Car Championship in 2005, Fiat will be a force to be reckoned with. No other brand is so committed to the sport, to the public and to the development of SA racing like Fiat.”

Fiat’s local racing started in 2003 when a few passionate staff members of Fiat Auto South Africa ran a Fiat Palio in the Northern Regions Super hatch series. The team went on to win the 2003 Class C regional championship.

In 2004 Mike O’Sullivan, Theunis Eloff and Brad Annasis developed and drove the three Fiat Palios initially, the latter replaced during the season by Dawie Brough. The Palio Racing Team’s efforts were rewarded in Round 5 of the championship as O’Sullivan scored the team’s first victory. A double header was just two rounds away as the Fiat Palios became the cars to beat in Class C. The Fiat Palio’s ended the 2004 season with a total of seven race victories.

FASA’s extended motorsport plans came to fruition in Round 9 of the championship when Mike O’Sullivan debuted the Fiat Stilo 2.4 Abarth in Class B in particularly fine style with a third place podium finish in East London. In addition, O’Sullivan lead class B in the last race of the season at Kyalami.

“The Abarth Racing Team is passionate and committed to achieving their goal – success. With the Abarth badge as the team logo, the scorpion tail, whether black or yellow, is sure to sting this season.” Concluded Burkhart.