The honour of claiming the first ever pole position in the Trofeo Abarth 500 has fallen to Venetian driver Nicola Baldan who went comfortably fastest in the conditions that faced the 27 drivers that turned out on a wet and windy Monza yesterday.

Baldan was in fact nearly two-and-a-half seconds quicker than Sicilian pilot Salvatore Tavano who was the next fastest runner and will thus line up alongside him in the tiny Abarth racer, that boasts an impressive 190 bhp, on the front row of the grid for the opening race of the Trofeo Abarth 500 today. Despite the inclement conditions at the track, Baldan's fastest lap in 2:22.919 was turned in at an average speed of 145.920 km/h and the cars were reaching a top speed on the main straight of 210 km/h during the practice sessions.

The famous Monza race track, long time home of the Italian F1 Grand Prix, is playing host to the first ever race in the brand new Trofeo Abarth 500, and the first to kick off of the three European championships that are dedicated to the little Fiat 500-based racer that will take place this year.

Third on the grid will be Manuel Villa (2:25.630) while Gianluca Giraudi (2:25.884) is set to line up alongside him. The third row is made up of Enrico Fulgenzi (2:26.073) and Raffaele Giammaria (2:26.355). Next up will be Abarth's young factory rally driver Umberto Scandola who has taken time out from his duties on the stages at the wheel of the Grande Punto Abarth S2000 to assist in the development programme of the 500 Abarth Assetto Corse. Alongside Scandola is the fastest qualifying driver in the Under-23 year old category, Alex Campani (2:27.016).

There are several well known celebrities dotted in amongst the 27-strong field for today's races including Jimmy Ghione from the popular Italian TV show Striscia la Notizia; he will line up in 24th place on the grid. Six slots further forward is another showman from Striscia la Notizia, Luca Cassol, who is better known to the many fans of the show as “Capitan Ventosa” (“Captain Suction Pad”).

The cars are being run by nine dedicated workshops that come under the "Abarth Racing" banner: Uboldi Corse with Autoalberta by Uboldi Corse (Lomazzo, Como), Carrozzeria Campana (Modena), Forza Service (Turin), Romeo Ferraris (Opera, Milan), Rosso Corsa (San Zeno Naviglio, Brescia), Trico Motor Sport (Alessandria), Officina Foresi (Civitanova Marche, Macerata), Procar (Casalguidi, Pistoia) and Zatti Sport (Parma).

Trofeo Abarth 500 fastest qualifying times (Monza): 1. Nicola Baldan in 2’22”919 alla media di 145,920 km orari; 2. Salvatore Tavano in 2’25”587; 3. Manuel Villa in 2’25”630; 4. Gianluca Giraudi in 2’25”884; 5. Enrico Fulgenzi in 2’26”073; 6. Raffaele Giammaria in 2’26”355; 7. Umberto Scandola in 2’26”361; 8. Alex Campani in 2’27”016; 9. Tobias Tauber in 2’27”314; 10. Domenico Lalinga in 2’27”406.