Last weekend the new Super2000 category Fiat Grande Punto Rally was in stage action during its second competitive outing, the 13th Rally dell'Adriatico, round two of the 2006 Italian Rally Championship, and the team's new driver Andrea Navarra finished second place.

The Grande Punto Rally, built to the FIA's new Super2000 regulations which call for a low-cost development programme and running costs, feature two litre engines, stock FIA-mandatory supplier sourced four wheel drive transmissions and limited electronic driver 'aids', stormed to overall victory on its rallying debut last month on the occasion of the Rally del Ciocco, in the hands of Paolo Andreucci and Anna Andreussi, who have developed the project. With Andrea Navarra and Guido D'Amore, who finished a solid fifth on the Rally del Ciocco, again piloting a second factory entered example, much attention again surrounded the car's second appearance.

Unfortunately, the two N.technology-run crews didn't manage to grab the overall victory on the Rally dell'Adriatico, although Navarra was able to bring his car home in a strong second place, just 15.2 second adrift of the winner, Piero Longhi (Subaru Impreza) to claim the Super2000 class prize, and beat a whole horde of 2006-specification GpN Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi Evo crews. Navarra, who stepped into a Super2000 car for the first time last month after half a decade driving much more powerful GpN cars, is rapidly adjusting himself to the new challenge and was satisfied with the result. "I am still adapting to the car, but my knowledge of this automobile grows kilometre by kilometre," he said at the finish line.

Andreucci rally was hit by mechanical issues surrounding the mandatory four wheel drive transmission. After suffering from 'cleaning' the road early in the rally on he got into his stride, keeping the new car in the top five throughout day one. Unable to make inroads into the overall leaderboard though once the transmission problems arose the rally winner last time out was withdrawn by his N.technology team.
 

However, Navarra's eight points for second place, coupled with the  five he earned last time out, moves him up to second place in the 2006 Italian Championship classification after two rounds, just one point off the new points leader Piero Longhi. Andreucci is only two points further back in fourth place, thanks to the ten points he scooped on round one.

The next round of the 2006 Italian Rally Championship, which also counts towards the European Rally Championship, will be the Rally Mille Miglia, scheduled to take place from 20 to 22nd April. For this event three Fiat Punto Rally cars will be entered, with Andreucci and Navarra being joined by Giandomenico Basso who will be kicking off his European Rally Championship title challenge at the wheel of the new Super2000 car.