Benny Simonsen, younger brother of GT ace Allan Simonsen, has signed with Pulce Racing to drive the Vospers-Abarthisti Abarth 500 Assetto Corse in the 2010 Trofeo Abarth 500 GB championship.

Benny is making his race circuit debut after a very successful career in Scandinavian karting, winning numerous championships.

He joins the fledging Pulce Racing formed as a spin off from experienced Le Mans Series protagonists JWA Racing. Pulce Racing are one of the few teams to acquire a dealer car – in this case, provided by Vospers, the largest car dealer in the south west of England.

Testing continues on a weekly basis in the UK and will include some warm weather running in southern Spain later this month.

Abarthisti-sponsored Vospers/Pulce Racing Abarth 500 Assetto Corse

Denise Watt, Managing Director, Pulce Racing said: “Pulce Racing are really excited to be on the Trofeo Abarth grid with a driver of the calibre and speed of Benny. We are going to be championship contenders from race one.”

Race driver Benny Simonsen commented: “I can’t wait for that first race to start, and I’m really pleased to have signed with such a professional team as Pulce Racing. I’m sure we’re going to be up the front fighting for race wins and the championship.”

John Hutchinson, Brand Manager for Vospers Abarth, said: “Vospers are proud to be a part of the Trofeo Abarth 500 GB. Abarth is already very appealing to those who remember the brand’s golden age during the ’50s and ’60s, and the race series will help attract a whole new generation of enthusiasts. Indeed, Vospers are thrilled to be supported by Abarthisti, the UK’s largest online community of Abarth owners and enthusiasts.”

Pulce Racing are also working in conjunction with Abarthisti on a range of tuning, styling and performance upgrades and accessories for all Abarth models. Details of these products will be announced as they become available.

The Trofeo Abarth 500 GB is excited to announce the highly anticipated 2010 calendar. The inaugural series will comprise 6 events in the UK and one European race weekend.

Interest in the new championship has been high since the official launch at Silverstone in October, and the announcement of the schedule will be followed soon by an attractive prize package.

2010 Trofeo Abarth 500 GB Provisional Calendar Announced

Organisers have been working hard to create a calendar that delivers the best platform for all the stakeholders. To achieve this, the Trofeo Abarth 500 GB will align itself with MotorSport Vision Racing (MSVR) and visit well known tracks including Oulton Park, Snetterton and Brands Hatch.

Many events on the calendar will have historical significance. The opening round at Oulton Park is one of the most attended events of the season and by being on the calendar we will be part of the official start to the UK Motorsport season.

The following race at Silverstone will be on the opening rounds of the FIA Formula Two Championship. Snetterton will be unique in the fact that it will be supporting the British Superbike Championship.

In July the Championship will be featuring alongside the FIA World Touring Car and Formula Two Championships on the Brands Hatch GP circuit. The Trofeo Abarth 500 GB will join the Trofeo EU for a combined grid that will offer a great spectacle.

Paolo Callea, organiser of the Trofeo Abarth 500 GB said: “Running our races with MSVR offers us events that suit the championship ethos. With this agreement we get to race at iconic British race tracks alongside well established national and international race series including World Touring Cars (WTCC), British GT and Formula Two. This calendar and the support of MSVR provides a great platform on which build the Trofeo Abarth 500 GB in its first season.”

MSVR Chief Executive, Jonathan Palmer said: “I’m very pleased that MSVR has continued its rapid expansion by adding the Trofeo Abarth 500 GB to its list of registered championships. Paolo Callea has already done a great job getting the Abarth championship off the ground, and with backing from Abarth, a strong calendar and expertise and support from MSVR I’m sure we will see strong grids and great racing in 2010.”

The provisional 2010 calendar is:

• 3&5 April Oulton Park (supporting F3/GT)
• 17/18 April Silverstone GP (supporting FIA Formula Two)
• TBC Snetterton (supporting BSB)
• 17/18 July Brands Hatch GP (supporting FIA Formula Two and WTCC)
• 24/25 July Silverstone GP (supporting Silverstone Classic, HSSC)
• 4/5 September Brands Hatch Indy (event TBC)
• TBC Spa

The Trofeo Abarth 500 GB race series was officially launched last week at Silverstone, with selected guests, drivers and race teams invited to inspect, admire and test the Abarth 500 Assetto Corse race cars, while learning more about the proposed 2010 series. Among the guests were comedian Patrick Kielty and supermodel Jodie Kidd.

Comedian Patrick Kielty and supermodel Jodie Kidd were at the launch

Since the Trofeo Abarth 500 Europe came to Brands Hatch earlier this year, the rumoured British version of the series has been the talk of the paddock. Following feedback from drivers, teams and sponsors, the series is now in its final stages of preparation. It launches with the stated aim of creating a package of racing that benefits all stakeholders – from competitors and sponsors, to owners and fans.

Abarth 500 Trophy at Brands Hatch

The provisional race calendar is as follows:-

Provisional 2010 Trofeo Abarth 500 GB Race Calendar

The Abarth dealer network has been encouraged to support the series, and so far five dealers – Platts (Stoke on Trent), Thames (Slough), S. G. Petch (York), Lipscomb (Aylesford) and Vospers (Plymouth) – have confirmed their involvement, with more due to come on stream shortly.

Three race teams have so far committed to the series: Coastal Racing, with Carl Bradley as team manager and driver, will run a multi-car team in 2010 where they will be looking to build upon their success in the Mini Challenge and Clio Cup. Meanwhile Rees Sport, run by former BTCC, Tuscan and MGF driver Matt Kelly, will capitalise on their experience gained in the Porsche Carrera Cup by entering their own Abarth 500 Assetto Corse next year.

Pulce Racing, backed by the engineering expertise of a Le Mans series race team, will be running the Vospers car, and their Assetto Corse will be sporting the Abarthisti logo.

Abarth 500 Assetto Corse race cars awaiting delivery

The series features identical Abarth 500 Assetto Corse race cars, based on the road-going Abarth 500. Powered by the same 1.4-litre turbocharged engine, but with extensive internal modifications and a larger Garrett turbocharger, the race cars develop 190 bhp at 6,500 rpm. With a reinforced roll cage welded to the bodyshell, as well as further modifications to the chassis and brakes, the Assetto Corse cars are built in Turin before being shipped to the UK in batches of four. The first batch has already been delivered to their owners, following shakedown tests at Fiat Group’s proving ground at Balocco.

The inaugural race will take place over the weekend of 3/5 April 2010 at Oulton Park, and Abarthisti will be following the series throughout the year.

More information about the Trofeo Abarth 500 GB can be found on the official website.

Abarth 500 Assetto Corse race cars during testing at Silverstone

Source: Abarthisti – The 2010 Trofeo Abarth 500 GB

By winning the two races held at the Vallelunga circuit, near Rome, Sicily’s Salvatore Tavano has clinched the Abarth 500-Selenia Trophy, a promotional formula featuring the Abarth 500 Assetto Corse. He won Race 1 ahead of Lombardy’s Francesco Iorio, who takes third in the Championship, and Race 2 ahead of Veneto’s Nicola Baldan, who finishes runner-up in the Trophy standings.

In this first season of the Abarth single-make series, Tavano won nine of the 12 races, while Baldan took two victories and Villa grabbed one.

Salvatore Tavano crowned Abarth 500-Selenia Trophy Champion

The first edition of the Abarth 500-Selenia Trophy went to a driver who, despite being only 29 years old (he was born in Syracuse on 13 March 1980), has a broad experience. He won in single-seaters (Federal F3 and Formula 3000, in which he finished fourth in the 2001 European series, winning at Zolder) and in Touring cars. He was a works driver for Alfa Romeo, with whom he won the 2003 Italian title in an Alfa 156 GTA, before competing in the World Touring Car Championship, in which he won at Mexico in 2006. Last year, he was entered in the GT Championship, in which he took his Ferrari F430 to victory at Valencia.

Abarth 500-Selenia Trophy, Vallelunga

In Race 1, Tavano made a good start from pole position and kept first place until the finish line, followed by Iorio. Behind them, Baldan had a poor start and was passed by Rizzoli. Ivan Capelli finished at a good fifth place.

Having posted the fastest lap time in the first race, Tavano started Race 2 from pole position again, with youngster Alex Campani beside him. At the first braking into the Cimini curve, Andrea Rizzoli and Manuel Lasagni went off track causing the safety car to be deployed. Once the race resumed, Tavano was still leading, ahead of Campani and Baldan. Those three were all close together and, in the last lap, Baldan overtook Campani. The third step of the podium was not enough for the latter to be crowned in the Under-23 category, in which Tobias Tauber scored more points than anyone else, finishing all the 12 races held to date.

Former Ferrari driver Ivan Capelli also took part in this last round, finishing fifth in Race 1 and seventh in Race 2.

Abarth 500-Selenia Trophy, Vallelunga

Race 1 classification:
1. Salvatore Tavano 11 laps in 21min09.811s – average speed 127.393kph;
2. Francesco Iorio + 1.279s;
3. Andrea Rizzoli + 6.018s;
4. Nicola Baldan + 6.766s;
5. Ivan Capelli + 8.850s;
6. Simone Di Luca + 13.471s;
7. Matteo Milani + 14.656s;
8. Manuel Lasagni + 14.893s;
9. Alex Campani + 24.648s;
10. Alessandro Frigerio + 29.465s.

Fastest lap by Salvatore Tavano, 1min54.430s – average speed 128.515kph.

Race 2 classification:
1. Salvatore Tavano 11 laps in 23min03.409s – average speed 116.932kph;
2. Nicola Baldan + 0.518s;
3. Alex Campani + 0.889s;
4. Simone Di Luca + 3.133s;
5. Matteo Milani + 9.072s;
6. Francesco Iorio + 9.587s;
7. Ivan Capelli + 17.869s;
8. Alessandro Frigerio + 19.101s;
9. Franco Cimarelli + 22.574s;
10. Severino Nardozi + 24.220s.

Fastest lap by Nicola Baldan, 1min54.487s – average speed 128.451kph.

Abarth 500-Selenia Trophy final standings:
1. Salvatore Tavano 245 points;
2 Nicola Baldan 202;
3. Francesco Iorio 114;
4. Andrea Rizzoli 96;
5. Manuel Villa 79.

Under-23 standings:
1. Tobias Tauber 208 points;
2. Alex Campani 193;
3. Simone Monforte 173;
4. Gabriele Larini 112;
5. Patrik Gobbo 100.

By winning the last two races on the circuit of Imola, Italian Emanuele Moncini won the Abarth 500 Selenia – European Trophy, beating fellow countryman Manuel Villa by a whisker. Villa was leading the standings prior to the last round. Only three points separates the two drivers at the end of the 12-round championship, the last of which was livened up by the fight between the two Italians, Moncini prevailing in the enthralling duel. Frenchman Benoît Perret finished third. The finishing order reflects the hierarchy of the championship as the transalpine driver takes third in the trophy.

Abarth 500 European Trophy: Emanuele Moncini wins the championship

At Imola, Moncini won Race 1 ahead of Manuel Villa and Alex Campani, the latter posting the fastest lap time which earned him pole position for Race 2.

Smoking hot fast pace imposed by the front runners characterised this last race, as well as the head-to-head battle between Moncini and Villa. At the start, Villa immediately tailed Alex Campani, who started from pole position. Moncini stayed behind and then made attempts to climb up the leaderboard in the first lap. In the second lap, Campani went off track, handing first place over to Villa. The two leaders in the standings were initiating a long battle. Meanwhile, further back down the field, Jorge Rodrigues was duelling with Simone Monforte for fifth place. Perret, then lying fourth, was a spectator of the battle for the lead, without being able to worry Matteo Milani. The retirement of this one handed third place over to the transalpine, allowing him to conclude the season on the podium.

Final Abarth 500 European Trophy race at Imola

To be pointed out is the fine performance of championship participants Erika and Simone Monforte, the youngest drivers to take part in all the rounds of this continental series with the Abarth 500 Assetto Corse.

Open until the end, the 12-leg championship was spread over six rounds at Valencia (Spain), Brno (Czech Republic), Porto (Portugal), Brands Hatch (England), Oschersleben (Germany), drawing to a close at Imola in Italy. The return of Abarth to European competition has been a success, with many young drivers from different countries of the old continent entering the events held in six nations.

The show is due to be repeated next year. The Abarth 500 Selenia Trophy and the Abarth 500 Selenia-European Trophy will be organised again in 2010 in accordance with procedure to be determined in the coming weeks.

Like this year, there will be a national and an international series, which will still feature the Abarth 500 Assetto Corse, a high-performance car that has proved highly competitive on the demanding circuits it has raced on, thanks to the 190bhp delivered by its 1400cc turbo engine.

Final Abarth 500 European Trophy race at Imola

Race 1 classification:
1. Emanuele Moncini (I) 9 laps in 19min48.807s – average speed 133,09 kph;
2. Manuel Villa ITA + 3.695s;
3. Alex Campani ITA + 4.163s;
4. Jorge Rodrigues POR + 8.551s;
5. Benoit Perret FRA +10.267s;
6. Simone Monforte ITA +23.960s;
7. Matteo Milani ITA + 32”.047s;
8. Massimiliano Baraldi ITA at 1 lap.

Fasted lap by Alex Campani in 2min10.857s – average speed 135.05 kph.

Race 2 classification:
1. Emanuele Moncini (I), 9 laps in 19min56.229s – average speed 132.27 kph;
2. Manuel Villa (I) + 1.664s;
3. Benoît Perret (F) + 8.444s;
4. Jorge Rodrigues (P) + 15.398s;
5. Simone Monforte (I) + 20.581s;
6. Paolo Debe (I) + 32.179s;
7. Gabriele Larini (I) + 51.122s;
8. Erika Monforte (I) + 1min03.288s;
9. Luca Cassol (I) + 2min16.312s

Fastest lap by Emanuele Moncini, 2min11.129s – average speed 134.77 kph.

Abarth 500 Selenia – European Trophy final standings:
1. Emanuele Moncini (I) 156 points;
2. Manuel Villa (I) 153;
3. Benoît Perret (F) 143;
4. Jorge Rodrigues (P) 131;
5. Simone Monforte (I) 102;
6. Erika Monforte (I) 47;
8. Alex Campani (I) 44;
9. Lucas Guerrero (E) and Freddy Nordström (S) 43.

The Abarth 500 European Trophy comes to Brands Hatch in Kent on the weekend of 18-19 July 2009, alongside the WTCC (World Touring Car Championship).

Abarth 500 European Trophy comes to Brands Hatch

Star of the show is the Abarth 500 Assetto Corse, based on the Abarth 500 road car, but with extensive modifications to its 1.4-litre turbocharged engine to produce nearly 200 bhp, as well as a reinforced roll cage, race brakes and suspension, and aerodynamic improvements.

Also competing over the weekend are the FIA Formula Two, Lotus Elise Trophy, Formula Master, and SEAT Eurocup.

Race 1 takes place on Saturday at roughly 5:00pm, while Race 2 gets underway on Sunday at around 4:20pm.

As we head into the fourth round at Brands, Italian Manuel Villa remains in command in the Abarth 500 Selenia-European Trophy standings with a 33 point lead over Frenchman Benoît Perret.

Race Calendar

Timetable is provisional and subject to change.

On Sunday 14 December, the Abarth 500 Assetto Corse will make its UK debut at the 2008 Race of Champions at Wembley Stadium in London.

Participating in the event will be some of the greatest champions of motor sport who will be competing against each other at the wheel of a range of different cars, on a track built specially in the London stadium.

Among these are Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, David Coulthard, Jenson Button, the rally world champion Sebastien Loeb, the world touring car champion Yvan Muller and the world superbike champion Troy Bayliss.

2008 Race of Champions

Abarth at the 2008 Bologna Motor Show

Abarth is using the 2008 Bologna Motor Show mainly to show off its new 500 Abarth Trophy (Trofeo Abarth 500), with a 600-square-metre temporary outside structure that showcases the preparation of the 500 Abarth Assetto Corse.

Abarth at the 2008 Bologna Motor Show

The Grande Punto Abarth and 500 Abarth Esseesse models will both be present, and on 11 December, the Grande Punto Abarth S2000 will also make an appearance.

In addition, there’s the usual host of Abarth accessories and merchandise, large-screen configurators for the road-going models, and even a pair of Abarth Powerplay Extreme desktop PCs and the Yamaha FZ1 Abarth Assetto Corse Concept Bike.

Abarth at the 2008 Bologna Motor Show

With the 500 Abarth Trophy Italy and the 500 Abarth Trophy Europe, both single-brand competitions, you can now experience the thrill of the track.

The 500 Abarth Trophy

In Italy, the Trophy will be run alongside the prestigious Ferrari Challenge, while the European Trophy will be run alongside the WTCC (World Touring Car Championship).

The 500 Abarth Assetto Corse models taking part will be produced directly by the manufacturer and sold ‘race ready’ to drivers through the official dealer network. The 500 Abarth Assetto Corse is priced at €32,800 + VAT

Both the sporting and technical regulations have been drawn up with the intention of allowing as many competitors as possible to take part – in highly competitive cars – at the lowest possible expense. That is why the practice sessions, number of possible tyre changes, and the number of technical changes that can be made to the cars have been limited.

500 Abarth Trophy Italy 2009 Calendar

Monza, 29 March – 7 laps
Vallelunga, 17 May – 8 laps
Brno (CZ), 31 May – 7 laps
Paul Ricard (FR), 7 July – 7 laps
Imola, 30 August – 9 laps
Mugello, 27 September – 8 laps

500 Abarth Trophy Europe 2009 Calendar

Valencia, 31 May – 11 laps
Brno, 21 June – 7 laps
Porto, 8 July – 9 laps
Brands Hatch, 19 July – 12 laps
Oschersleben, 30 August – 12 laps
Monza, 4 October – 7 laps

Each event will be run under the weekend racing format and will include:

• 30 minutes of free practice,
• 30 minutes of official practice,
• 2 races, each of about 50km.

The entry fee for the 500 Abarth Trophy Italy, and for the 500 Abarth Trophy Europe is €12,000 + VAT and includes:

• entry for individual races,
• free practice,
• 5 passes for access to the paddock area and catering for every driver,
• a race clothing kit,
• a free-time clothing kit.

Alternatively, it is possible to enter events individually and take part only on the relative circuit.

All the circuits involved in the 500 Abarth Trophy will have a special paddock area reserved for race competitors. Access will be by means of an individual badge that will allow drivers and their teams, among other things, to use the catering and open bar services.

Paid tickets are also available to allow entry to team guests.

500 Abarth Assetto Corse

Almost 43 years after Carlo Abarth drove his last record-breaking car, Abarth is making its racing comeback with the new “500 Abarth Assetto Corse”, the ultra-sporty little Scorpion designed by Fiat Group Automobiles Styling Centre and developed by Abarth’s team of engineers and designers.

Fiat 500 Abarth Assetto Corse

It looks like a true racing car as can be seen from the 1400 cc engine (16 valves and 200 bhp), wide tracking, ultra-light 17” white racing alloys, lowered suspension, racing mirrors and numbers down the sides.

Available in pastel grey with red Abarth side stripes, the “500 Abarth Assetto Corse” has an aggressive front end complete with Abarth badge, below which are the oversized bumper, aerodynamic spoiler and screen printed grilles, replacing the plastic ones on the standard version. On the engine hood, apart from the traditional hooks, we find the two carbon air intakes complete with scorpion. The rear of the vehicle has a white spoiler, Abarth badge and double exhaust. Last but not least, in true Abarth style, down the sides is the sword logo which represents the brand’s racing image, and the roof with its red stripe and four white checks, just like the winning Abarth 850TC of the 1960s.

Inside, the “500 Abarth Assetto Corse” has a racing-approved roll-bar, hollowed out to make it faster and lighter (the car weighs about 120 kg less than the road going version). The ergonomically-designed seat, special racing steering wheel and carbon door panels make the 500 Abarth Assetto Corse a true racing car – tiny but with a tough character. However, it has something extra: it has been designed to be cheap to run. Abarth has once again made racing affordable by promoting a “democratic” approach to the sport, demonstrated by the single-make 500 Abarth Challenge Trophy.

500 Abarth Challenge

In the best Scorpion tradition, in 2009 Abarth will be organising a single-make trophy featuring the 500 Abarth Assetto Corse: the car will be produced directly by Abarth and will be sold to drivers “race-ready”, through the dealer network.

The Italian round of the Trophy will be held together with the prestigious Ferrari Challenge: free qualifying, official qualifying and two races each of 30 minutes, the tried and tested weekend racing formula. Meanwhile, abroad, drivers can choose from the trophy competitions in several countries (Portugal, Spain, Germany and Great Britain have already been confirmed), or an international challenge to be held in conjunction with the World Touring Car Championship, according to the same technical and racing regulations as the Italian trophy.

The participants will test each other’s skills on the most famous circuits of Europe: Monza, Vallelunga, Brno, Paul Ricard, Imola and Mugello for the series paired with the Ferrari Challenge; Valencia, Porto, Brands Hatch, Brno, Oschersleben and Monza for the WTCC (World Touring Car Championship) series.

At the end of the season, the winners of the national and European series will meet in a grand finale.

The technical characteristics of the car, and the racing formula, have been specifically designed in order to make participation in the trophy extremely affordable.

Fiat 500 Abarth Assetto Corse technical specifications

Engine

• 4 cylinders in line, 4 valves per cylinder, 1368 cc
• Power: 200 bhp (147 KW) at 6500 rpm
• Max. torque 221 lb/ft (300 Nm) at 3000 rpm
• Garrett GT 1446 fixed geometry turbocharger
• Specially reinforced air and water intake covers

Transmission

• M32 6-speed transmission

Suspension

• Front: McPherson, special racing shock absorbers, coaxial spring with ride height adjustment
• Rear: interconnected bars , special racing shock absorbers, springs with ride height adjustment

Steering

• Racing-calibrated electric power steering

Brakes

• Brembo 4-piston radial front caliper M4X40
• Self-ventilated, perforated front brake disc ø 305 mm x 28 mm
• Rear caliper with piston ø 36 mm
• Rear brake disc ø 264 mm x 11 mm
• High-performance racing brake pads

Body

• Rear spoiler and front bumper splitter

Chassis

• Reinforced cage structure, welded to bodyshell
• Lightened interior, Sabelt Racing safety set-up
• Optimised driving position moved towards the centre of the car

Wheels

• Painted aluminium alloys, 7″ x 17″
• Tyres: 205/50 ZR17

Weight

• 920 Kg