FIAT RETURNS TO RALLYING IN MONTE CARLO

The starting ceremony of the 73rd Monte Carlo Rally, which will take place this evening (Thursday January 20) in the Principality of Monaco, marks Fiat’s official return to the Junior World Rally Championship. An official Fiat Punto Abarth, driven by Mirco Baldacci and Giovanni Bernacchini will be in the starting line-up. They finished fourth in the 2003 Championship, in a Fiat Punto entered by a private stable, having also won the San Remo Rally.
The Junior World Championship, reserved for Under-28s and Super 1600s, is based on 7 rallies: Monte Carlo, Italy-Sardinia, Acropolis-Greece, Finland, Germany, Tour de Corse and Spain-Catalonia.
The Monte Carlo Rally is divided into three stages, all starting and finishing in the Principality. The first will be run tomorrow (Friday January 21), starting at 7 am and terminating at 7 pm; there are four special speed trials and a total of about 100 km at speed. The second will be held on Saturday, starting at 6.45 am and ending at 8.05 pm, with five special speed trials (130 km). The final stage is programmed for Sunday, from 6.40 am, and terminating at 2.30 pm, with six special speed trials (115 km).
The great appeal of this race is the typically Wintery weather conditions. At the present moment 70% of the roads are dry, but they present insidious icy patches and some snowy stretches. The teams will have to choose their tyres carefully.

Turin, January 20, 2005

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