Abarth has announced the calendars for the two new grassroots rally championships which will be fought out on the Italian rally stages this year using the brand-new Abarth 500 R3T (above): the Trofeo Abarth 500 Rally Selenia and the Challenge Abarth – BFGoodrich.

Abarth has announced the calendars for the two new grassroots rally championships which will be fought out on the Italian rally stages this year using the brand-new Abarth 500 R3T: the Trofeo Abarth 500 Rally Selenia and the Challenge Abarth – BFGoodrich; the new series continuing a tradition of Scorpion rally championships that stretches back three decades to the fondly-remembered A112 trofeo in 1977.

The car set to contest the series is the brand new Abarth 500 R3T, based on the hugely successful Fiat and Abarth 500 model and now homologated for rallying in the R3T category from 1 March 2010. It will be sold "ready to race" and also registered at a price of 48,000 euros (plus VAT). This is a genuine racing car, with a turbocharged engine that produces an output of 180 bhp, coupled up to a 6-speed sequential gearbox with a limited slip differential, dual disc clutch, racing suspension with adjustable dampers with coaxial springs to vary the ride height, adjustable camber plates, disc brakes all round (300 mm at the front and 251 mm at the rear, with bias and correcting rear hand brake with hydraulic. The 500 R3T will run on OZ 7 "x 17" wheels shod with 200/50-R17 tyres. In addition there will be all the usual FIA approved safety measures, starting with the roll bar welded and built specifically for the body, all the necessary safety equipment and the seat belts fitted with 6-point anchor points. The car will be sold through a network of Abarth “racing” dealerships: Auto Alberta by Uboldi Corse (Como), Campana Onorio (Modena), Forza Service (Turin), Romeo Ferraris (Milan), Trico Motorsport (Alessandria) and Zatti Top Class (Parma).

The Trofeo Abarth 500 Rally Selenia incorporates thirty years of a tradition of supporting grassroots rally championships by the Scorpion brand, and this latest series will seek to enable young and talented drivers to shine for a low base cost and offer the possibility of progression in a driver's budding career. Thanks to the input of the ACI-CSAI, the top prize for the best Under-25 driver will be participation in the Rally di Como later this year at the wheel of an officially-entered Abarth Grande Punto S2000, while the runner-up will dispute the Monza Rally Show 2010, also at the wheel of an Abarth Grande Punto S2000.

For each of the six rallies in the calendar the overall winner will receive 4,000 euros, while 2,500 euros will go to the runner-up and four BFGoodrich racing tyres for the third placed driver. The top placed Under-25 driver will receive 2,000 euros plus the benefits of the overall placed drivers if applicable. The inaugural Trofeo Abarth 500 Rally Selenia will consists of six races, all to be contested on asphalt, with four valid for the Italian Rally Championship (CIR): 23-24 April, Rally Mille Miglia; 18-19 June, Rally del Salento; 3-4 September, Rally Alpi Orientali, and 24-25 September, Rally Sanremo, and two more which are valid for the Trofeo Rally Asfalto: 28-29 May, Rally Marca Trevigiana, and 16-17 July, Rally San Martino di Castrozza. Registration for the Trofeo Abarth 500 Rally Selenia costs 2,000 euros (or 1,600 to those who subscribe by March 31) and includes fireproof Abarth racing suits for the pilot and navigator.

Meanwhile the second series for the 500 R3T, the Challenge Abarth – BFGoodrich, will consist of eighteen races that are valid for the Challenge Nazionali di Zona; less demanding rallies that however still provide good training and enable drivers to run at even lower costs. This series will kick off on 9 May with the Rally di Schio, to be followed by: 16 May, Rally Città di Torino; 16 May Rally Cellole; 6 June, Rally di Siracusa, 13 June, Rally Valli Ossolane, 27 June, Rally Valli Imperiesi, 27 June, Rally Val di Cecina; 4 July, Rally Benacus; 11 July, Rally di Cremona; 11 July, Rally Valle del Sosio; 18 July, Rally Città di Modena; 25 July, Rally Città di Lucca and on 8 August, Rally Tirreno, before – curiously - three counting rounds will take place on the same day, 12 September, namely the Rally Torriglia, Rally dei Carpineti and Rally Montalbo. The penultimate counting round of the Challenge Abarth – BFGoodrich, the Rally Valtellina, will be contested a week later (19 September); and finally, 10 October, Rally Valdiano.

Drivers enrolled in Challenge Abarth – BFGoodrich will have no obligation to participate in all the rounds in order to win prizes and race tyres which will come courtesy of BFGoodrich. Registration for this series costs 400 euros, but is free competitors in the Trofeo Abarth 500 Rally Selenia.