news:  rallying
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14th December 2002:  Rallycars in action at Bologna Motor Show
 
"The rain stopped, but the show certainly didn’t in Euro The Sport Watch Arena, where all day challenges shot adrenalin levels up to the stars. It didn’t matter if there were cycles or cars for the packed audience of the Motor Show, that all day gave back much energy and enthusiasm to these rich spectacles while waiting to see the drivers take to the track for the free trials of the International Beta Utensils Memorial Bettega. Paolo Andreucci, Cyril Henny, Piergiorgio Deila and Piero Longhi are the semifinalists of the Super 1600, that will be raced tomorrow during the second to last day of the Motor Show. The quarterfinals of this category proved very interesting, where Andreucci (Fiat Punto) won hands down over Dallavilla (Citroen Saxo), slowed down by a mistake in the second heat. Henry (Fiat Punto) won over the Englighman Rowe, stopped when the arm in arm was brokern, Deila (Fiat Punto) had to sweat quite a bit before beating out the motor cross driver Puzar (Fiat Punto), and Longhi (Renault Clio) negated every action computed by the Lebanese Feghali (Ford Puma)."
1st December 2002:  Giandomenico Basso takes fourth overall in FIA World Junior Rally Championship
 
Giandomenico Basso and Gigi Pirollo on their way to third place in the Newtwork Q Rally of Great BritainGiandomenico Basso and Gigi Pirollo took drove their Fiat Punto to third in the FIA junior category on last week's Network Q Rally of Great Britain, which incorporated the final round of the 2002 FIA World Junior Rally Championship. 

Having been running comfortably in second place behind eventual winner Daniel Sola ( Citroen ), a late puncture dropped them down to the final podium slot. However, it was good enough to allow them to claim fourth overall in the championship. Christian Chemin, also in a Fiat Punto, retired on the final stage of the event.
14th October 2002:  Fiat Palio Rally wins class on Rally de Velocidade
 
Luis Tedesco and Sidinei Broering have taken the Fiat Palio Rally to category victory on the Rally de Velocidade in Brazil. The Palio Rally runs in class A6 for 2wd cars up to 1600cc.
the Fiat Palio took category victory on the Rally de Velocidade the Fiat Palio took category victory on the Rally de Velocidade
2nd October 2002:  Fiat Punto Abarth Rally wins class in Greek Rally championship
 
Iaveris Junior and Kostas Stefanis driving a GpA Fiat Punto have won the F3 category of the Greek Rally Championship with two rounds still remaining. The Rally D.E.TH., held in poor conditions which included rain and fog, was their sixth class win of the series. They finished second overall and still remain in with a shout of the overall title.
11th September 2002:  N-Technology experimenting with Super 1600 version of Palio "World Car"
 
N-Technology are experimenting with a Super 1600 Class version of their Palio model. The Palio is the hatchback model in the "World Car" range, a simpler and lower budget car that is produced in a number of developing countries.

A prototype version ran on last weeks Anatolia Rally in Turkey, driven by regular Fiat Punto Super 1600 driver Paolo Andreucci.
1st September 2002:  Puntos sweep Super 1600 class on Rally Alpi Orientali
 
Gianluigi Galli won the Super 1600 class in his Fiat Punto Abarth Gianuigi Galli led home a top four sweep of Fiat Puntos in the Super 1600 class on the Rally Alpi Orientali, the penultimate round of the Italian Championship. He was followed home by Luca Pedersoli, Jader Vagnini and Massimo Ceccato. Ceccato also took the honours in the under-27 category, while Scorcioni won in the under-25s
28th August 2002:  Punto juniors struggle on Rally Deutschland
 
Giandomenico Basso was the highest of the Fiat Stilo drivers in the junior world championship on the Rally Deutschland, overcoming a series of punctures to finish seventh The fourth round of the FIA Junior World Championship supported the prestigious Rally Deutschland. However the Fiat Stilo Abarth drivers struggled. Giandomenico Basso suffered two punctures and an off road excursion, fighting back with three late stage wins to finish 7th in the junior category, followed home by Chemin who also had an off in his identical Stilo Abarth. Highly rated Caldani, who earlier had picked up three punctures, retired with electrical problems late on. 
14th August 2002:  Fiat wins first Italian Rally Championship for 18 years
 
Paolo and Anna Andreucci in their Fiat Punto Abarth Rally on their way to winning Fiat's first national rally title for 18 yearsPaolo and Anna Andreucci have won the Italian Super 1600 National Rally Championship at the wheel of a Fiat Punto Abarth with two rounds remaining. They won the Super 1600 class on last weekend's Rally San Martino di Castrozza, making it six wins and one second place from eight starts. Significantly it is the first Italian rally championship win for a Fiat in 18 years.

Along the way they fought of stiff opposition from a horde of other Trofeo Fiat Punto entrants, as well as last years runner up in a Punto, Andrea Dallavilla, who this year campaigned a Citroen Saxo, and Piero Longhi in a Renault Clio.

The N-Technology developed Super 1600 Fiat Punto Abarth has had a very successful first year. Besides wrapping up the Italian title, Puntos currently lead their categories in the Greek, Turkish, Belgian, Spanish and Portugese national rally championships.
30th November 2001:  Stilo Abarth Rally and Punto Abarth Rally cars unveiled at Bologna Motor Show
 
The Stilo Abarth Rally, built by N-Technology to FIA GpN regulations and based on the Stilo 1.8 litre 16v model, was unveiled at the Bologna Motor Show.

Engine power has been increased from 133 bhp to 157 bhp, a new single plate ceramic clutch is fitted, while suspension is revised and comes with loose or ashphalt settings.

The Punto Abarth Rally has been designed to meet FIA Super 1600 regulations, 215 bhp is reached with the assistance of a revised engine ( the 1.8 HGT unit is reduced in capacity to 1579cc ) including new lightened crankshaft, pistons & con-rods, flywheel & a single plate ceramic clutch.

The suspension is heavily revised while larger Brembo brake callipers are fitted allround.
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