The first round of the inaugural championship for the new breed of 'Super2000' rally cars will get underway in South Africa this morning with the new N.technology-run Fiat Grande Punto Rally bidding for overall honours as it appears on a gravel surface for the just the second time - and looking for its first loose-surface win. The car, which will be driven by 21-year-old Italian Umberto Scandola who will be guided by the vastly experienced 51-year-old Luigi Pirollo from the passenger seat, will be also taking on the South African developed Super2000 cars from Toyota and VW - the first time the Grande Punto rally has gone head-to-head with other cars of this new category.

The Grande Punto Rally was created to conform to the FIA’s proposed new Super 2000 rally regulations which incorporates two litre normally aspirated engines and a reduction of costs in an attempt to encourage more manufacturers into the sport. The Fiat Grande Punto Rally was developed by the Fiat’s competition arm N-Technology. Paolo Andreucci carried out the bulk of the development of the car since its first test back in early 2005. He is also leading the Fiat challenge in the Italian Championship this year with the new car. The car has also been tested by ex-FIA World Rally Champion Colin McRae. So far the Fiat Grande Punto Rally has won four out of the five events it has started this year, including the first two rounds of the FIA European Rally Championship and holds a clear lead in the CIR Italian Rally Championship.

This year's edition of the Zulu Rally South Africa will be the biggest and best motor rally ever staged in the country. The event, being staged in Durban and its surrounds this weekend is a full round of the FIA African Rally and South African National Rally Championships but, more importantly, it is doubling as South Africa’s bid for inclusion in the World Rally Championship (WRC). The bid process means that Zulu Rally South Africa will be deemed a 'Candidate' event for inclusion in the WRC, and will be judged by the Federation Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA) accordingly. The Bid has the backing of the South African Government’s Department of Sport and Recreation, Motorsport South Africa, Tourism KwaZulu-Natal, Durban Africa, the Ethekwini Municipality and Durban’s world class International Conference Centre and Durban Exhibition Centre.
 

Innovative elements for the Zulu Rally South African this year include a centralised service park located at the huge Durban Exhibition Centre in the heart of the City of Durban, rally villages situated within the stages, the closing off of a major road in the centre of town to allow rally spectators a close-up view of the cars, and others, which will all add up to make the event unique within local motorsport. Making the event more than just a rally, is the inclusion of the 'V-Max Motorsport Festival' in the activities. This interactive extravaganza offers competitors, fans and enthusiasts an all-in-one weekend of spectacular action and participation.

The Zulu Rally, which started last night with a ceremonial start at 'parc ferme' in Durban, finishes late tomorrow afternoon. In the intervening period the competitors will tackle 12 special stages, encompassing 229.3 km of competitive special stage sections, which add up with the road sections to make up a total route of 902 km. The majority of the timed tests will be held on gravel giving the Grande Punto Rally the chance to shine on this surface. It made its debut on gravel at CIR-counting Rally Adriatico, more than one month ago, where although Paolo Andreucci retired, Andrea Navarra grabbed an outstanding second place. And although it showed itself to be competitive on gravel, it hasn't won on a loose surface yet, as all its other events have been on tarmac. The Fiat team will thus have the chance on the Zulu Rally this weekend to show that the Grande Punto Rally is really the best all-rounder.