At the Bologna Motor Show the wraps have come off a new Abarth-branded single-seater, fitted with Fiat Powertrain's 180 bhp 1.4 turbo engine, that will push forward the careers of young driving talent in the ACI-CSAI promoted Formula Azzurri series initiative through to 2014.

Abarth’s involvement builds on its commitment to supporting grassroots motorsports, now comprising pf the Trofeo Abarth 500 Rally series which will hit the Italian special stages next year and the track version of the similar car which has just completed a successful first edition.

Abarth is taking over the baton of supporting the junior formula that started in 2005 with the CSAI’s Project Youth initiative. It builds on previous Fiat Group grassroots single-seater championships including Formula Italia and Formula Fiat Abarth which started drivers such as Michele Alboreto, Riccardo Patrese and Alessandro Nannini, just to name a few, on a path to a successful career in Formula 1.

The goals of this new single-seater formula have been set thanks to the work of Abarth, FPT (Fiat Powertrain Technologies), Tatuus, which will build the chassis, and the CSAI. The objectives were to create a formula with a high standard of safety, cost and content that will be guaranteed for several years, and with quality technology that will be a real test for the young talents of motorsports.

Tatuus has employed a carbon fibre chassis which is fitted with the 1.4 FIRE turbo engine with 180bhp, the same unit as used in the Trofeo Abarth 500, developed for the application by Fiat Powertrain Technologies with the transmission, supplied by Sadev, featuring a 6-speed sequential gearbox.

The 1.4 turbo engine is produced by the Racing Division of FPT-Fiat Powertrain Technologies and it has an aluminium dry sump that forms a structural components of the single-seater. This is an inline 4-cylinder engine with turbocharger capable of delivering maximum power of 180 bhp at 5,500 rpm and maximum torque of 250 Nm at 3,500 rpm. Among the specific features of this engine is a two stage oil recovery pump and a flywheel fitted with a narrow twin disc racing clutch.

This engine is fitted to the car developed by Tatuus that conforms to a new design that has been created in order to to enhance the qualities of the engine and ensure the highest standards of safety. The chassis tub has been built to the same approval requirements as Formula 3, while the cockpit has been prepared to accept the driver's HANS neck support. Other safety features include retention cables for the wheels in case of detachment in a crash, the latest-generation roll-up bar that adheres to strict standards for height, and finally the car offers maximum resistance in case of side and vertical impact as well as through the front crash-box.

The unveiling of the Formula Abarth car and details of the project in Bologna builds on a presentation held at the Monza circuit in October, when prospective entrants were invited, and alongside the strong technical package, put together by the ACI/CSAI, Abarth, Tatuus and FPT Racing, is an equally strong sports and promotional programme. For its inaugural season the ACI CSAI Formula Abarth will run over seven double header rounds with the races set to last 23 minutes plus 1 lap and as usual it will go hand-in-hand with a mentoring program provided by ACI-CSAI through the Scuola Federale CSAI Velocità overseen by Director Cristiano del Balzo and the pilot-instructor Raffaele Giammaria.

With regard to the criteria for admission to the Formula Abarth championship, the Trofeo Michele Alboreto will be open to drivers who have reached 15 years of age and run up to a maximum 19-years old (born after 31/12/1990, for the 2010 edition), while for drivers born after 31/12/1990 and up to a maximum of 23-years old (born after 01/01/1987) they will compete in the Trofeo Nazionale CSAI. On the promotional front, the final prize pool will provide 50,000 euros to the champion as well as a supply of FPT engines and tyres for the Campionato Italiano Formula 3. A communications program is being developed by AciSport which is targeting live broadcasting of all the races and wide press coverage.