Although Abarth has backed away from the demanding challenge of the IRC this year, rally fans will be delighted that Luca Rossetti (above) and reigning FIA European Rally Champion Giandomenico Basso will chasing the Italian Rally Championship (CIR) title in the Abarth Grande Punto S2000. Veteran Italian rally star Franco Cunico, best known for his win on the Rallye Sanremo in 1993 at the wheel of a Ford Escort RS Cosworth (bottom), will be out in action on the CIR this year in an Abarth Grande Punto (top).

Although Abarth has backed away from the demanding challenge of the IRC this year, rally fans will be delighted that Luca Rossetti and reigning FIA European Rally Champion Giandomenico Basso will chase the Italian Rally Championship (CIR) title in a pair of Abarth Grande Punto S2000s. Creating what is arguably the strongest lineup fielded by Abarth on the CIR for some years, the two pilots will embark on the challenge with their usual co-drivers, Matteo Chiarcossi and Mitia Dotta, sitting alongside.

Both drivers will feel the hand of history, having experienced considerable previous success in this championship. Basso won the title in 2007 at the wheel of a factory Abarth Grande Punto S2000, while Rossetti claimed top honours a year later with a Racing Lions-run Peugeot 207 S2000. In 2009, factory efforts on the IRC trail were entrusted to the private Grifone team, while fellow Italian team Procar was responsible for Abarth’s CIR campaign. This year, however, operations have been entrusted to another experienced private outfit, Trico Motor Sport.

Finding the budget to put the two-car programme together for the CIR has taken some time, an official announcement only coming on Friday. Notably, the highly-rated Basso turned down several offers from front-running teams, including seats in the CIR with Skoda Italia and Ford Italia, in order to remain with Abarth. If additional budget can be found, Basso is also looking to take part in a limited IRC program, while Abarth is also considering an ERC program for Rossetti to build on last year’s title success. The team's young protégé, Umberto Scandola who has been part of the S2000 project since its inception in 2006, has meanwhile been released and is being linked with Ford Italia alongside another former Abarth exponent, Renato Travaglia.

Indeed, the 2010 CIR is set to prove extremely competitive, with Abarth’s lineup going head-to-head with last year’s title winners Paolo Andreucci and Anna Andreussi, once again campaigning the factory-backed Racing Lions Peugeot 207 S2000. Piero Longhi, meanwhile, has split with Skoda Italia and signed to drive a 207 prepared by Twister Corse, while Luca Cantamessa will also be present in a privateer Peugeot.

"We have a winning team, made up of two of the best drivers, and the team is motivated to bring home the title to our marque," said Ing. Domenico Bagnasco, Abarth’s head of Engineering and Manufacturing Operations. On the subject of Scandola, he added: “We regret having to terminate our relationship with Umberto Scandola – a very good pilot who always gave his best also as a test driver. Umberto, we wish you success in 2010.”

Finally, Bagnasco added a word about the contribution of everyone involved with the Abarth rally effort over the past couple of years. “I want to personally thank, on behalf of all at Abarth, the teams of technicians and mechanics at Grifone and Procar who over the last two years have actively worked with us, both in the Italian championship and the IRC.”

Abarth’s factory-backed lineup will be further supplemented throughout the season by a privateer Grande Punto Abarth, campaigned by former CIR title winner Gianfranco Cunico. Perhaps best-known for his win on the 1993 Rally Sanremo in a private Ford Escort RS Cosworth, breaking Lancia’s run of seven consecutive wins on home turf, Cunico claimed three CIR titles between 1994 and 1996 in a Jolly Club-run Escort. The decision marks Cunico’s return to Fiat Group products after a long break, having previously briefly campaigned a Lancia Delta HF 4WD in 1987. His Abarth Grande Punto will be run by the D'Ambra team.

Eight rallies will count towards the 2010 Italian Championship Rally (CIR): Rally 1000 Miglia (April 23-25), Rally Adriatico (May 22-23), Rally Salento (June 18-20), Rally San Marino (July 2-4), Rally Friuli de Alpi Orientali (September 3-5), Rally Sanremo (September 24-26), Rally Costa Smeralda (October 8-10) and Rally di Como (October 22-24). This last round will also see a third factory-backed Abarth Grande Punto S2000 joining the fray, driven by the best placed under-25 pilot in the inaugural Trofeo Abarth 500 Rally, a new Scorpion promotional championship which will make its debut at the 1000 Miglia. The eight rounds of the CIR are split between gravel and asphalt, with three on the former (Adriatico, San Marino and Costa Smeralda), while the latter five are on sealed surfaces.