Alfa Romeo's commitment to its autonomy programme is being exemplified this year by their continuing support for Alfredo Di Cosmo who is racing a specially-adapted Alfa 147 in the thick of the action of the 2007 Campionato Italiano Velocità Turismo (Italian Touring Car Championship). His new racing car is being run once again this year by Autostar Motorsport, and it was recently presented by Di Cosmo at the showcase Mirafiori Motor Village in Turin.

Disabled driver Di Cosmo is racing a new 1.8-litre Alfa 147 in Class N4 where he will face very tough opposition in a bumper field. The car, which replaces the 2.0 TS 16v version of the hatchback which he raced last year, has been lightened to just 1.014 kg; and it makes full use of the Alfa Romeo Autonomy Programme's technology. This centres around the "Guidosimplex" system which allows hand-controlled acceleration and braking through the fitment of a new steering wheel addition, while a 6-speed Sadev sequential gearbox and a push-button operated clutch will allow Di Cosmo to fully manage the car on the Italian race tracks this year. Other features of this racing car include 4-position brake balance valve and fully gas-adjustable shock absorbers.
 

Born in December 1971, Di Cosmo suffered an accident in 1995 which rendered his legs unusable, and after a lengthy stay in hospital, he took to the race tracks in 2000 driving a Fiat Seicento Sporting which was developed in conjunction with Fiat's Autonomy Programme. In 2002 he proved his determination was backed up by ability as he won the Autonomy-supported FISAPS series title, which allowed him to gain a full driving licence. This meant he could enter the Italian Touring Car Championship the next year, which he duly did, racing in the N4 Class, for cars of up to 1800cc. During the 2004 and 2005 seasons he campaigned a 1.8-litre Punto HGT, again in N4, turning in a string of excellent results, while last year he tackled the popular series at the wheel of an Alfa 147 2.0 TwinSpark 16v.

This successful racing project is ample testimony to the Fiat Group Automobiles Autonomy Programme which is targeted at drivers with reduced motoring abilities. During the last decade this programme has seen innovative adaptations made to more than 12,000 Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Lancia models across Europe, all specially converted to take into account a number of differing driving requirement scenarios.