Luís Tedesco and Marcos Debien, driving the 2008-specification Fiat Palio Abarth 1.8R have taken another win on the Brazilian Rally Championship, their third consecutive victory of the year. Fábio Dall'Agnol and Marcelo Dalmut driving a Fiat Palio Abarth in the N2 class were unlucky; late rally problems say when finish third.

The factory Fiat Rally Team's star crew, Luís Tedesco and Marcos Debien, driving the 2008-specification Fiat Palio Abarth 1.8R have taken another decisive win in the Brazilian Rally Championship, their third consecutive category victory of the year, and one which helps to keep them firmly on course in their title challenge.

Tedesco came out on top on Saturday (31/05) on the 5th Rally de Divinópolis, which was held in the Minas Gerais region. It counted as the third round of the 2008 Brazilian Rally Championship, and he won in the hotly contested N3 category which is reserved for rally cars with engines under 2000 cc, 4x2 traction, and limited preparation. The three maximum scores collected on the three events to take place so far means that Tedesco retains his leadership of the championship, with 30 points.

Meanwhile in the N2 category, reserved for machines with engines under 1600 cc, 4x2 traction, and limited preparation, the Fiat Rally Team's young crew, Fábio Dall'Agnol and Marcelo Dalmut, also competing in a Fiat Palio Abarth, were not so lucky. Due to issues encountered on the the last stage of the rally, they arrived at the finish line in third position, to claim the final step of the N2 podium; coincidently it was the same position they hold in the championship, having now collected 20 points from the three rallies. However maintaining consistency, it was their third visit to the podium this year.

In N2 'light' category of the Rally de Divinópolis, at the wheel of a Fiat Palio developed by TedRacing Sports, was the crew, Marcelo Franco and 'KZ' Morales, who also arrived at the chequered flag in a very impressive third position.

The next challenge for Fiat Rally Team, as they seek to maintain their challenge for the 2008 Brazilian Rally Championship title, will be the fourth round of the series, to be held in the city of Tijucas in the state of Santa Catarina located in the South of Brazil on 19 and 20 of July. The rally will mark the halfway point in this year's eight-round championship, which is scheduled to wrap up in mid-November.

by Claudio Perlini