Abarth pulling out of IRC ?
 

I just quickly looked in Autosport the other day, and thought I read that Abarth will pull out of being a registered manufacturer with IRC ?

Does that mean they are not doing more to the car, no longer planning to do WRC in 1600T config, or are they pulling out to concentrate on a new WRC car in 2011 ?

Situation in Abarth is not clear. We have to wait...

There was a quote from an Abarth team member in Autosport that they will not do IRC in 2010. Don't know if they will still register so privateers can score, or whether it will be nothing at all.

Ok Mirek, thanks for the info.

Would be sorry to loose them !

Is the sit with the Abarth team the same that was with Ferrari F1 prior to the Todt, Brawn, Schumacher era ? Would it help to get in an outsider to stear the team ?

I cant remember but I think in the article it listed their WRC chances as being 50/50. Which is a real shame because at one point they looked almost certain to make a return.

They would need to build a new car though as the Punto is at the end of it's development life.

How about the new Lancia Delta? It's a family hatch just like the Grande Punto, albeit one class bigger. But the Delta nameplate has plenty of resonance in rallying.

Update: there is a chance Abarth stay registered for IRC in 2010 even if the works team compete less (or not at all)

I could imagine them wanting to cherry pick a couple of the big rallies like Sanremo and Monte.

FYI abarth has been gone for a year already, they outsoursed their activity to grifone at the beginning of this year already.

Yes IRC yes, but the brand Abarth still indeed exists.

Unfortunately the Punto is no longer top dog, seems like latest car is fastest car (excluding the Proton)

WT

Yes, that's true, their car were run by Grifone and Procar.

Abarth is fully concentrated on 500 R3T, the Grande Punto S2000 is already long time dead, I guess.

Fiat Group has a lot to do with Chrysler from now on, hard to think about competition until the american group is out of crisis, me thinks http://www.motorsportforums.com/images/smilies/ermm.gif

So maybe a Chrysler Rally car then ? http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...ies/tongue.gif

http://www.rallylink.it/news//images..._Basso.jpg.jpg

Rumours say that Abarth debuted with 1820 mm spec in Italy last week. Can anyone confirm?

Yes, it's true.

Any more upgrades than the carwith?

As far as I know new engine is used already for few months. I don't know more.

I think the Punto Abarth is still a very competitive car.
Just need to see they'r performance in Italy and what did Rossetti at Rally Madeira.
On gravel I'm not so sure but, Anton Alen and the Italian drivers, may not have been the best references.

No, most of the lack of performance is in the car. It's built too much for smooth asphalt Mediterranean roads which makes it not suitable to rough roads. Stiff suspension with small lifting or different gearing made for Italian roads doesn't work elsewhere very good.