The new 500 Abarth Assetto Corse has been in action over the weekend at the 33rd Bologna Motor Show where the potent little racer has been put through its paces in demonstration runs in the Motor Sports Arena.

While its new single-make racing car entertains the large crowds in the grandstands at the Bologna Motor Show, Abarth has announced the calendar for the new Trofeo Abarth 500 championship, the three series' will take in some of Europe's most famous circuits, including Monza, Imola, Brno and Brands Hatch and support the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, FIA World Touring Car Championship and the ACI-CSAI Championship.

The Trofeo Abarth 500 series' will be contested by a special racing version of the 500 Abarth, the 500 Abarth Assetto Corse, a machine which will boast 190 CV, 17-inch wheels, homologated roll cage, new aerodynamic bodywork appendages including a rear spoiler, and the usual racing safety equipment. The new 500 Abarth Assetto Corse has been in action over the last weekend at the 33rd Bologna Motor Show where the potent little racer has been put through its paces in demonstration runs in the Motor Sports Arena; including in the hands of Official Ferrari Test Driver Luca Badoer.

The Trofeo Abarth 500, which will support the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, is set to comprise of six rounds, with two races each. It will kick off at Monza, the long-time home of the Italian Grand Prix, on 29 March, before taking in the Ferrari-owned Mugello circuit on 3 May. Then it moves onto Imola, the former host of the San Marino Grand Prix, a fortnight later (17 May), before heading to France for a double-header at Le Castellet on 5 July. Following a summer break, the series will once again follow the Ferrari F430 Challenge one-make racers, this time to Valencia in Spain (27 September) before wrapping up at the Vallelunga circuit near Rome (11 October).

The Trofeo Abarth 500 Europe will also comprise of six rounds, however this series though will support the prestigious FIA World Touring Car Championship during selected European rounds. It gets underway on 31 May in Valencia, Spain, before travelling to one of Europe's most famous and historic race tracks, Brno in the Czech Republic, on 21 June. Then it is on to the newly-revived Porto city track in Portugal and across the channel to the UK for an appointment at Brands Hatch (19 July). Following a summer break the European series heads to Oschersleben in Germany (6 September) and a fortnight later for its final round at Imola in Italy (20 September).

The third series will be based in Italy and its six rounds will see four supporting the ACI-CSAI Championship with the other two appearing alongside the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli. The Trofeo Abarth 500 Italia as it is to be known will get underway on 3 May where it will support the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli championship, and also appears on the bill with the Trofeo Abarth 500 series. On 7 June the tiny racers will be at the Magione circuit (ACI-CSAI), then on 2 August at Varano de' Melegari (ACI-CSAI) and 27 August at Mugello (ACI-CSAI) before wrapping up on 11 October at Vallelunga (Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli).