The 2007 Brazilian Rally Championship got underway at the weekend with the 11th Rally do Litoral in Santa Catarina. And the rally saw Fabio Dall Agnol driving the TedRacing-run Fiat Palio Abarth Rally, with navigator Marcelo Dalmut alongside, began the first round of the series with victory in the N2 category, which is contested by 1.6-litre engined cars featuring 4x2 drive and limited engine preparation, a class which is considered the ideal entry level to the sport in Brazil.

“The first rally was perfect since the beginning and I was able to manage the leading advantage up to the end," said Dall Agnol. He and his co-driver are setting out this year to defend the two consecutive championships won by factory Fiat Rally team in N2 category, in 2005 and 2006.

Brazilian reigning champion Luís Tedesco and his navigator Bruno Mega were not as lucky as Dall Agnol and Dalmut. Contesting the A6 category (for 1.6-lire engines, 4x2, unlimited engine preparation) in a TedRacing Fiat Palio Abarth Rally they had just achieved only third position although they were fastest in all stages, mechanical problems unfortunately finishing their hopes of winning the race. "It is unusual but in a rally or race is not enough to be the fastest, it is necessary to complete all the stages, but we are happy with the victory in N2, the car behaved very well showing its robustness and an excellent performance to fight for a new championship this year," declared Tedesco, who is also the head of Fiat Rally team, TedRacing. Tedesco is the reigning Brazilian champion and the pilot has won nine consecutive titles and is searching his eleventh championship title year, making him the most successful Brazilian driver ever.