30.10.2004 Fiat Auto South Africa have presented two racing cars at this week's Auto Africa Expo 2004, the Palio and Stilo, which are being campaigned in the SA Production Car Championship
Fiat Auto South Africa (FASA) have presented two racing cars at this week's Auto Africa Expo 2004 in Johannesburg, the Palio and Stilo, which are being campaigned in the South African Production Car Championship.
They are two thirds of an ambitious racing programme instigated this year by the South African Fiat Auto importer, which also sees Alfa Romeo 147 GTA racers running in the series which in part of the popular Vodacom Power Tour.
Fiat made its official return to South African motor racing at Killarney in Cape Town when two Palios were entered in round two of the series back in July.
The racing effort began as a privateer dream last year when a few passionate staff members of FASA decided to run a Fiat Palio in the regional Superhatch series. The team, managed by Chris Botes and Theunis Eloff, went on to win the 2003 Class C Championship.
The team realised that competing nationally was going to be a far more serious project than regional racing and approached seasoned racer and team manager Mike O'Sullivan. Fiat, already entrenched in national motor racing through the exploits of Alfa Romeo Squadra Corse, rendered assistance and has become the title sponsor of the Palio Racing Team.
“A lot of effort has been put into this project,” commented Theunis Eloff prior that first race at Killarney. “We are committed to successfully campaigning the three Fiats this year with a combination of experience and youthful enthusiasm. It is great to know that the team started because of a lot passion for the sport and for the brand.”
Victory was not to be far round the
corner, and during round five at the Zwartkops Raceway outside Pretoria, the
still-developing Palio Racing Team, now up to a full strength of three 'Special
Series' cars, scored their
first Class C victory.
"From complete
novices to the front of the class is a great success for the Palio Racing Team,"
commented a clearly delighted Michael Burkhart, FASA's General Manager for
Marketing.
Meanwhile the second Fiat-branded racer burst onto the scene only earlier this month as FASA debuted what was to be their seventh entry in the SA Production Car Championship during round nine held at the East London circuit.
The Fiat Stilo Abarth was driven on its debut by veteran driver Mike O’Sullivan who switched from the Palio Racing Team to drive the new car. The Stilo Abarth is prepared the experienced Mosport racing team that have helped to engineer success into the Palio Racing Team.
The racing debut of the Stilo was also timed to coincide with the South African launch of the road-going Stilo Abarth, a car expected to be popular among the growing army of style and sport conscious South African car buyers.
Everyone involved in the project was ecstatic when the Stilo finished on the podium. “Mike’s drive and preparation of the Stilo Abarth was phenomenal,” said Michael Burkhart. “It is a great accomplishment to debut a brand new car on the podium against such stiff competition as the Minis, Fords and Toyotas."
At the Auto Africa Expo this week, these two cars have taken centre stage in Fiat's comprehensive collection as FASA demonstrate that they have a clear understanding of the importance of racing success to the Fiat legend, and most importantly, actually having the guts to get out onto the track. The instant successes are a handsome reward, and a clear justification that they have got it right.
Alongside the official preview of the new Palio, which goes on sale in South Africa next year, the race version is being seen for the first time in this new format, and taking a cue from the Stilo's huge Abarth 'scorpion' logos, the Palio is also presented in a similar styling scheme.
The South African Production Car Championship will come to a close with a pair of races at Kyalami, the legendary circuit a former home of the South African Grand Prix next weekend. Both the trio of Palios, and the new Stilo, will no doubt be in the thick of the action, gunning for glory.
additional photos by Shaun Churchyard in Johannesburg
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