28.05.2012 MOTORVILLAGE PARIS SHOWCASES A CENTURY OF FIAT GROUP'S RACING SUCCESS
MotorVillage Paris, the showcase outlet of Fiat Group Automobiles France, located at Rond Point des Champs-Elysées, is presenting a new exhibition GRAND PRIX - 1 siècle de victoires automobiles, which is celebrating a century of important victories, and is bringing together for the first time, the most successful models of Fiat Group's long and rich history of motorsport.
MotorVillage Paris, the showcase outlet of Fiat Group Automobiles France, located at Rond Point des Champs-Elysées, is presenting a new exhibition GRAND PRIX - 1 siècle de victoires automobiles, which is celebrating a century of important victories, and is bringing together for the first time, the most successful models of Fiat Group's long and rich history of motorsport.
MotorVillage Paris, the showcase outlet of Fiat Group Automobiles France, located at Rond Point des Champs-Elysées, is presenting a new exhibition GRAND PRIX - 1 siècle de victoires automobiles, which is celebrating a century of important victories, and is bringing together for the first time, the most successful models of Fiat Group's long and rich history of motorsport.
MotorVillage Paris, the showcase outlet of Fiat Group Automobiles France, located at Rond Point des Champs-Elysées, is presenting a new exhibition GRAND PRIX - 1 siècle de victoires automobiles, which is celebrating a century of important victories, and is bringing together for the first time, the most successful models of Fiat Group's long and rich history of motorsport.
MotorVillage Paris, the showcase outlet of Fiat Group Automobiles France, located at Rond Point des Champs-Elysées, is presenting a new exhibition GRAND PRIX - 1 siècle de victoires automobiles, which is celebrating a century of important victories, and is bringing together for the first time, the most successful models of Fiat Group's long and rich history of motorsport.
MotorVillage Paris, the showcase outlet of Fiat Group Automobiles France, located at Rond Point des Champs-Elysées, is presenting a new exhibition GRAND PRIX - 1 siècle de victoires automobiles, which is celebrating a century of important victories, and is bringing together for the first time, the most successful models of Fiat Group's long and rich history of motorsport.
MotorVillage Paris, the showcase outlet of Fiat Group Automobiles France, located at Rond Point des Champs-Elysées, is presenting a new exhibition GRAND PRIX - 1 siècle de victoires automobiles, which is celebrating a century of important victories, and is bringing together for the first time, the most successful models of Fiat Group's long and rich history of motorsport.
MotorVillage Paris, the showcase outlet of Fiat Group Automobiles France, located at Rond Point des Champs-Elysées, is presenting a new exhibition GRAND PRIX - 1 siècle de victoires automobiles, which is celebrating a century of important victories, and is bringing together for the first time, the most successful models of Fiat Group's long and rich history of motorsport.

MotorVillage Paris, the showcase outlet of Fiat Group Automobiles France, located at Rond Point des Champs-Elysées, is presenting a new exhibition GRAND PRIX - 1 siècle de victoires automobiles, which is celebrating a century of important victories, and is bringing together for the first time, the most successful models of Fiat Group's long and rich history of motorsport.

MotorVillage Paris, the showcase outlet of Fiat Group Automobiles France, located at Rond Point des Champs-Elysées, is presenting a new exhibition GRAND PRIX - 1 siècle de victoires automobiles, which is celebrating a century of important victories, and is bringing together for the first time, the most successful models of Fiat Group's long and rich history of motorsport.

This unique event, which will run throughout the summer at the MotorVillage Paris, chases history from the legendary Fiat "Mefistofele" which broke the world speed record nine decades ago all the way through to the Abarth Grande Punto S2000 which most recently won the prestigious 2011 FIA European Rally Championship title. Whether in Formula 1, endurance racing or rallying, the Fiat Group holds numerous records and titles and has etched its name at the forefront of the world's biggest races.

By choosing the MotorVillage Paris as the location for this extravagant exhibition, the elitist nature of motor racing, where truly getting "behind the scenes" is always a less accessible proposition, is dispensed with, and the showpiece venue offers visitors the perfect opportunity to discover and admire so many different forms of racing success in one single environment. All motor sports enthusiasts will be captivated by this event as they are able to follow the evolution of the Fiat Group's competition cars through several epochs.

Throughout this exhibition, Fiat Group spawned competition cars draw on the genealogy of the myth: from the daring Alfa Romeo "Alfetta" 159, the huge success Lancia had on the world rally stage with models such as the Delta, and right through to modern innovation with the Abarth Grande Punto S2000

GRAND PRIX - 1 siècle de victoires automobiles at the MotorVillage Paris revolves around eight storied race cars from the Fiat Group:

The Alfa Romeo "Alfetta" 159; the 1500cc display car is the one wearing the evocative "number 22" which allowed the famous Argentinean driver Juan Manuel Fangio to win his first F1 World Championship title in 1951. A second Alfa Romeo, this time the 33TT12, reflects the brand's sports car racing prowess; it also won the world championship and the car on show was driven in anger by a succession of greats including Derek Bell, Henri Pescarolo, Jacky Ickx, Jacques Laffite and Arturo Merzario.

Scuderia Ferrari's F1 exploits are simply unmatched, and the car on show is the F1-90 which connects the dots with France as it was raced by Alain Prost during the 1990 F1 season carrying the #1 that the Frenchman brought with him to the Maranello team.

Maserati is represented by the MC12 which went on a sports car winning spree between 2004 and 2005 including a string of FIA GT1 Championship titles and winning the 24 Hours of Spa; based on the Ferrari Enzo it also spawned a homologation run of 50 road car versions.

The Lancia brand is synonymous with rallying and two of its historical icons, the Fulvia 1.6 HF and Delta HF Integrale, join the exhibition. The former won the first FIA sanctioned manufacturers rally championship title in 1972 and the car on show has just celebrated the 40th anniversary of its historic Monte Carlo Rally victory. The latter car needs very little introduction, in six seasons (1987-1992) and through four successive versions (HF 4WD Integrale HF, HF Integrale 16V HF Integrale Evo) this model took six FIA World Champion Rally Manufacturers' titles and the European crown title six times, as well as allowing Miki Biasion and Juha Kankkunen to claim double world championship drivers' titles.

The Fiat Mefistofele, so nicknamed because of the deafening noise produced by its aircraft engine, swept in style to the world speed record in July 1924 at Arpajon after hitting 234.97 km/h. (This model will be present at the display until June 30).

Finally GRAND PRIX - 1 siècle de victoires automobiles will show off the Abarth Grande Punto Rally S2000, bringing Fiat Group's sporting achievement up to date as it currently holds the FIA European Rally Champion title thanks to the efforts of Luca Rossetti. After the withdrawal of Lancia from front line rallying in 1993, no brand from the Fiat Group was present in this tough arena until Abarth decided in 2005 to launch the 2.0-litre normally-aspirated Grande Punto S2000 onto the rally tracks. It was truly a triumphant return as four European Rally Champion titles were notched up (2006, 2009, 2010, 2011) as well as the Italian crown.

To accompany these exceptional vehicles, MotorVillage Paris is presenting a first for Europe: a 3D 360° driving simulator. With this new-generation simulator, visitors can test their skills driving racing cars on many of the world's greatest circuits. With a high-definition screens for 180° vision, wheel force feedback, and its three axes of movement, this simulator faithfully recreates the dynamics of racing cars. A certificate indicating the time achieved on the driving simulator will be offered at each end of the race and a further competition will earn invitations to the Italian Grand Prix later this year.
 

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