Founded in 1949 by the Austrian Carlo Abarth, the company made its début in the racing world with the 204 A Roadster (based on the Fiat 1100), which was instantly capable of winning the Italian 1100 sport and Formula 2 championships.

The brand became increasingly popular among motoring enthusiasts. Its progress was unstoppable, and over the years it became a particularly authoritative name, reaching its peak at the end of the 1950s and throughout the 1960s. Carlo Abarth devoted himself entirely to building up the "Scorpion" legend, and his work rate, almost frenetic, revealed the nature of his genius. This epic success story, almost without equal, forged ahead at a pace that is incredible even by today's standards. A long road, marked by records, victories and ground-breaking ideas that were to change the way people looked at sports cars.

In 1956, in a Fiat Abarth 750 styled by Bertone, Abarth set a lengthy string of endurance and speed records: at the Monza circuit on 18 June, he beat the 24 hour record, covering 3743 km at an average speed of 155 km/h. Later, from 27-29 June, on the same circuit in Lombardy, he notched up a series of records: the 5000 and 10,000 km, the 5000 mile, and even the 48 and 72 hour records. His success was international, and the influential German magazine “Das Auto Motor Und Sport”, in its issue no. 15 (21 July 1956), even featured the Abarth 750 on its cover. The same car was styled by Zagato in two different versions: the Fiat Abarth 750 Zagato (1956) and the Fiat Abarth 750 GT Zagato (1956). On 11 and 12 May 1957, at the 24th Mille Miglia, there were no fewer than 20 "Scorpions" in the 750 class, of which an impressive 16 finished the race.

In 1958, Abarth achieved nothing short of a masterpiece with the new Fiat 500, completely transforming the small utility car and enhancing its potential to the full. In the same year, he formed an even closer relationship with Fiat, which agreed to award cash prizes to Abarth according to the number of victories and records set by the team. This event would form the foundations for the impressive roll of honours that followed: 10 world records, 133 international records and over 10,000 track victories.

The Abarth legend kept on growing, and even became part of everyday parlance. The 1960s were the golden age for Abarth, and the name came to mean "speed", “courage”, “performance” and “modification”. The list of vehicles which have helped to engrave the Abarth name deep into motor-racing history is truly a long one: from the 850 TC which won at every international circuit including the Nurburgring, to the Fiat Abarth “1000 Berlina”, right up to the 2300 S which notched up an extraordinary series of records at Monza, despite the adverse weather conditions. In 1965, Carlo Abarth wanted to set his own personal record. On 20 October 1965, at Monza, with the Fiat Abarth “1000 Single-seater Record” Class G, (105 hp) set the record for acceleration over 1/4 mile and 500 metres. The following day, in a 2000 cc class E single-seater, he set the same records for higher categories. Once again, an anecdote says much about the tenacity of this man, who had to lose 30 kilos before he could fit into the narrow cockpit and take his car to victory - at the age of 57.

From 1971 onwards, Fiat Auto became the outright owner of Abarth, and the last vehicle in which its founder was to play an active part was the A112 Abarth. During the 1980s, the story continued with celebrated cars like the Ritmo Abarth and the Fiat 131 Abarth which won the world rally championship no fewer than three times: in 1977 and 1978 with Markku Alén (the father of Anton Alén, currently a driver in the Abarth team) and in 1980 with Walter Röhrl. Abarth has now inherited the activities of the Fiat Racing Team, and has once again entered the world of rallying on a winning streak.
 

Last year, the Grande Punto S2000 won all the championships it entered: the International, European and Italian Rally Challenges.

Grande Punto Abarth S2000

A competitive car with a racing destiny, through the Racing Division the Grande Punto Abarth S2000 is taking part in the Italian Rally Championship 2007, driven by Giandomenico Basso, with co-driver Mitia Dotta. It is also taking part in the IRC (Intercontinental Rally Challenge) with Anton Alén, Andrea Navarra and Umberto Scandola behind the wheel. Fitted with a normally aspirated 2000 cc engine (270 hp) and 4-wheel drive, the new Grande Punto Abarth S2000 is the successor to the car which won the European and Intercontinental Rally Challenge in 2006, with Giandomenico Basso and Mitia Dotta, and also triumphed with 7 wins in the 2006 Italian Rally Championship. It should be remembered that the cars produced to date, approximately 25, have been ordered by various racing teams both in Europe and further afield, to compete in international and national rallies. On the strength of this advanced technology, the new Grande Punto Abarth S2000 is leading the two championships with the same determination. Claudio Berro, the director of Racing Operations at Abarth & C. Spa, can rely on personnel with extensive motor-racing experience, and a prestigious team of drivers.

One-make trophies

Promotional trophies are part and parcel of the Abarth story. The first edition of the A112 Abarth Trophy, the first one-make rally championship, dates back to 1977, and featured the Autobianchi A112 Abarth 70HP. A small, agile car, it coped well with the tough, demanding rally stages, bringing success and fame to a great many Italian drivers. It fulfilled this role for 8 years, until 1984. Fiat then continued its policy of supporting young drivers in the Fiat Uno, Uno Turbo, Fiat Cinquecento, Seicento and Punto championships, up until the more recent Fiat Panda Rally Cup, Fiat Abarth Italian and International competitions.

This year, true to tradition, there is a major new development represented by the Abarth Grande Punto ORO DIESEL Trophy, the championship reserved for the Fiat Grande Punto R3D. Ahead of its time, the car is already configured according to the international technical standards due to come into force in 2008. The star of the competition, the Fiat Grande Punto, complies with the technical specifications of Group R and has a 1900 cc Multijet diesel engine. A conversion kit has been developed for this car, on sale at approximately € 30,000, which includes all the safety and mechanical components required for racing. The car used by competitors can be acquired from the Fiat Italia sales network with a 25% discount. The 2007 championship is held over 6 stages, all on tarmac, of which 5 are part of the Italian Rally Championship. As always, there is an attractive cash prize of over € 300,000, and the winner will receive support in continuing his racing career.

A one-make trophy was also held in 2007, reserved for Fiat’s other racing models, in particular the Fiat Punto Super 1600 and the Fiat Panda Kit and 100HP. Finally, the most striking piece of news is the new format for the Fiat Panda Trophy, which drivers can enter with their own car and their own team. There is also a substantial prize in this competition: over € 100,000.