The new Scudería Fiat will run two full factory entries in Rally Argentino this year, the first car piloted by Claudio Menzi and Diego Cagnotti while the second will be in the hands of Cristian Confetti and Luís Allende. The cars, which are based on the Brazilian-built 5-door Punto and incorporate some S2000 Grand Punto elements including the aero kit (bumpers, rear wings, rear arches and air scoops) as well as the suspension, have been developed for Class 3 of the Rally Argentino and are prepared and run by the experienced Juan Manuel Solís.

A fortnight ago, as the team was building up to the new season there was a surprise visitor to the workshops in the shape of Argentinean grand prix legend Froilán González who accompanied the President of Fiat Argentina, Cristiano Rattazzi to inspect preparations. Now 88 years old, González has always had a close association with the world of wining Italian racing machines: he scored Scuderia Ferrari's first ever FIA Formula 1 World Championship win at the British Grand Prix in 1951 and eventually took part in 26 world championship races in top-flight single-seaters including the Maserati A6GCM and 250F as well as the Lancia-Ferrari D50. Rattazzi, meanwhile, jumped behind the wheel of the Punto Maxi Rally, recruiting team boss Juan Manuel Solís as an improvised navigator, and proceeded to put the new machine through its paces. "It's a long time since I drove a rally car with four wheel drive and I liked it a lot," said an enthusiastic Rattazzi afterwards.

The first test for the brand new Punto Maxi Rally took place near the city of Malagueño three weeks ago with the shakedown duties entrusted to Menzi. That test was all about chassis setup and getting Menzi comfortable in the car and was adjudged too have been a success: "We are very happy," said Solís," We worked a lot on chassis tuning and the changes were significant at all times. The car responds well to the changes applied. We have a long way to go in developing the car but the first impressions leave us very happy. There was also time for a celebrity figure to take a ride in the Punto Maxi Rally: Argentine basketball star Fabricio Oberto. The national squad member and previous player for NBA side San Antonio Spur was strapped in alongside Menzi to sample the potent machine.

A week ago the Punto Maxi Rally was back out testing, this time Menzi's team mate for 2011, Confetti, got the chance to sample the machine for the first time. "The truth is I'm positively surprised," said Confetti afterwards.

The first of the calendar's scheduled eleven rounds this year is the Rally San Antonio de Areco, Capitán Sarmiento y Baradero which takes place in the capital city, Buenos Aires, on April 3. Two weeks later the Rally Argentino moves on to Villa Dolores in Fiat Argentina's "hometown" of Córdoba for round two. Round four on May 27-29 is the prestigious Rally de Argentina (Carlos Paz/Córdoba) while the series will eventually wrap up on December 16-18 with the Rally Unquillo, also taking place in Córdoba.

Menzi is seeded at #5 for this weekend's season opening Rally San Antonio de Areco, Capitán Sarmiento y Baradero, with team mate Confetti set to take the start ramp at #14. Numerically Mitsubishi's Lancer and Subaru's Impreza dominate the entry list, however it is contenders from Ford, VW, Chevrolet, Kia and Fiat that look set to battle for honours this year.