Following the success of the inaugural Fiat Stilo Rally Cup UK single make rally championship in 2004; the series is back for 2005.

Now called the Fiat Rally Cup, the 3 door Fiat Stilo will continue to provide the platform for this exciting manufacturer-backed rally series. The 187bhp cars will contest all eight rounds of the Kwik Fit Pirelli British Rally Championship for the first time, having missed just the Ulster Rally in 2004.

New and existing competitors took the opportunity to discuss the forthcoming season at this weekend’s Autosport International Show where the 2005 Fiat Rally Cup was officially announced.

Two Stilos were on display at the show, one being part of the British Rally Championship display which took the award for best stand in the National Motorsport section of the show.

The winner of this year’s Fiat Rally Cup will take home a brand new Fiat Stilo Abarth road car and with it the prestigious title of 2005 Fiat Rally Cup Champion. The substantial event prize fund of nearly £20,000 will continue, with first, second and third placed drivers taking £1000, £750 and £500 respectively on each rally.

An extra cash award of £200 will be paid to the highest placed junior driver on each of the eight classic British Championship rallies with the highest points scorer taking the Junior Trophy at the end of the season.

“2004 was a great first year for the Cup,” commented Fiat Cup co-ordinator Gary Pesticcio, “and with Fiat firmly behind the series again, 2005 will see close competition in this high profile championship.
 

"The car specification will remain fundamentally unchanged, with just a couple of tweaks to help component life," he continued, “We have one new Stilo remaining but there are plenty of 2004 Italian specification cars available."

Pesticcio added “The Stilo is a great car and we’d like to give potential competitors the opportunity to find out for themselves.

"We will be holding an evaluation day in early February at the Chris Birkbeck International Rally School in the North East of England. Drivers will be able to test the car and preparation companies will get a chance to poke and prod a car in the workshop”.