Last year the driver to beat in the wheel of the identical-specification Abarth 500 Assetto Corse racers was experienced Italian driver Salvatore Tavano (above, seen during the round at Vallelunga).

Hot on the heels of the announcement of its rally championship dedicated to the new 500 R3T, Abarth has detailed its track racing calendars for the 500 Assetto Corse, with the number of series in Europe now rising to three. It means that the pan-European Trofeo Abarth 500 Europe and the domestic Italian Trofeo Abarth 500 Italia will both go into their second seasons to be joined by the inaugural running of the Trofeo Abarth 500 Great Britain, all the series aiming to build on the Scorpion’s overriding principles of accessibility and fun.

The big change this year as these championships seek to build on an inaugural year which saw plenty of race action but quite small grids, a result mainly as the low-cost concept was launched right into the face of the global economic recession, is that there will now be the opportunity to run different drivers in each of the races that make up the race weekend's double-header format which is being retained. This, Abarth believes, will encourage more younger drivers into the series and lead to a further reduction in costs.

The jewel in the crown of the will be the Trofeo Abarth 500 Europe which will comprise of five rounds of two races each contested on some of the leading circuits in Europe. This series will kick off at Hockenheim in Germany on May 30, before visiting Imola (Italy), Brands Hatch (UK), which will also count towards the British series, and the Salzburgring (Austria), before finishing at Monza on October 24 where all three series will combine for a glittering grand finale.

The format of the Trofeo Abarth 500 Europe will comprise of two qualifying sessions of 20 minutes duration each and two races of 25 minutes plus one lap. The cost of enrolling in the series is 7,500 euros and includes all the entry fees, race clothing and Abarth hospitality, including catering, as well as paddock preparation for the teams. If the pilot is already enrolled in the Italian or British series the fee is reduced to 6,500 euros. To boost grids and interest further drivers will also be able to enroll for individual races. The top prize will be a street version of the Abarth 500.

In the UK there will be seven rounds, beginning on April 4 at Oulton Park, while for the domestic Italian series there will be six rounds with two races each kicking off at Misano on April 25. In Italy the races will be part of Csai promoted events and take place concurrently with the Formula ACI/Csai-Abarth single-seater championship and the prestigious F3 Italia. The entry fee has been lowered from 11,000 euros in 2009 to 9,000 euros this year with a street-legal Abarth 500 being the top prize and with the first Under-18 driver in the final standings being loaned a Formula ACI/Csai Abarth car for the next season. Drivers can in fact compete in the Trofeo Abarth 500 Selenia Italia from the age of 15 years old upwards if they have a valid "Csai C Nazionale" licence which can be obtained after taking a course at the Scuola Federale Csai. There will be four categories: Overall, Under 25, Under 18, and new for this year, a class reserved for "gentleman" for pilots over the age of 40 years old.

The Abarth 500 Assetto Corse racers are sold in Italy through a dedicated "Abarth Racing" network of specialist dealers which are responsible for preparation of the cars as well as offring maintenance and assistance. Six companies, all heavily steeped in racing tradition, make up this network: Uboldi Corse con Autoalberta by Uboldi Corse (Lomazzo, Como), Carrozzeria Campana (Modena), Forza Service (Torino), Romeo Ferraris (Opera, Milan), Trico Motor Sport (Alessandria) and Zatti Sport (Parma).

Trofeo Abarth 500 Selenia Europe

30 May, Hockenheim
04 July, Imola
25 July, Salzburg
05 September, Brands Hatch
24 October, Monza

Trofeo Abarth 500 Selenia Italia

25 April, Misano
06 June, Magione
04 July, Imola
29 August, Varano
10 October, Mugello
24 October, Monza

Trofeo Abarth 500 Great Britain

4 April, Oulton Park
18 April, Silverstone
23 May, Cadwell Park
27 June, Snetterton
25 July, Silverstone
5 September, Brands Hatch
24 October, Monza