Sign up for the newsletter

Sign up for the Stellantis Communications Newsletter and stay updated on all the news.

09 Jul 2019

FCA Heritage at the 2019 Cesana-Sestriere

• The legendary Cesana-Sestriere hill climb organised by the Turin Automobile Club will be held on the hairpin bends of the Winter Olympics mountains from July 12 to 14.

FCA Heritage at the 2019 Cesana-Sestriere

 

  • The legendary Cesana-Sestriere hill climb organised by the Turin Automobile Club will be held on the hairpin bends of the Winter Olympics mountains from July 12 to 14.
  • As a tribute to the 70th anniversary of Abarth, the brand with the Scorpion badge will be the special guest of this competition, the only one of its kind in Italy, in which it has featured many times.
  • Two cars picked from the FCA Heritage collection will be competing, namely an Abarth 2400 coupé (1964) and a Fiat 500 (1974) outfitted out with "Abarth Classiche 595 tune-up kit".

 

The 38th edition of the Cesana-Sestriere - Trofeo Giovanni Agnelli hill climb is about to start. The event also known as "CE-SE" in the racing world was first run in 1961 and now one of the key events on the world classic motor sports scene, also valid for the European and Italian Historic Hill Climb Championships. Over 120 drivers will get to grips with the spectacular 10.4 km course, which climbs from 1,300 metres a.s.l. in Cesana Torinese to the 2,035 of Sestriere, both famous mountain tourism destinations.

 

The guest of honour of the prestigious event will be Abarth that is celebrating its 70th anniversary. FCA Heritage, the department of the Group dedicated to protecting and promoting the history of the Italian brands of FCA, will also be there. Further information on FCA Heritage and its services is available at fcaheritage.com.

 

Abarth and Cesana-Sestriere share a long history. The brand with the Scorpion badge was the star since the first edition of the hill climb organised by the Automobile Club Torino. The competition was created in 1961 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Italian unification. At that time, most of the cars that took part were city cars kitted out racing mechanical components specially designed by Abarth, such as exhaust pipes, oil sumps, cam axles and everything else needed to make them competitive on the hairpin bends of this race. The Sports versions built by Abarth offered a great show over the years and twice an Abarth 3000 won the first prize, specifically in 1970 with Arturo Merzario and in 1971 with Austrian Johannes Ortner.

 

The Scorpion badge is returning to these roads today as the leader with two classic models - an Abarth 2400 coupé (1964) and a Fiat 500 (1974) outfitted with an "Abarth Classics 595 tune-up kit" - picked from the FCA Heritage collection. Both cars are housed in Turin in the new Heritage Hub, a fluid and creative multi-functional space that houses the department, and will be taking part in the "Cesana-Sestriere Experience" commemorative parade accompanied by several models picked from current production. One of these will be the new Abarth 595 esseesse and an official example of Abarth 124 rally.

 

Abarth 2400 coupé (1964): This wonderful coupé, designed by Michelotti, was presented at Geneva in 1959. It was a Gran Turismo version of the Fiat 2100, built at the Allemano carriage works from 1962 to 1964, known first as the 2200 coupé and, in the last year - when it was built on the Fiat 2300 base - as the 2400 coupé. The straight-6 engine of the 2400, generating 140 HP, powered the model to a top speed of 200 km/h. This car belonged to Karl Abarth himself.

 

Fiat 500 (1974) outfitted with "Abarth Classiche 595 tune-up kit": a classic Fiat 500 outfitted with an "Abarth Classiche 595 tune-up kit" will also be taking part in the race. The 500 is a genuine test car specially set up by FCA Heritage to test the replica of the tune-up kit which confirmed brilliant results during the last edition of the Targa Florio by veteran test driver Abarth Eris Tondelli, who will also be present at Cesana-Sestriere. The tune-up kit is a replica of the one which shaped the history of Abarth establishing it as the brand which invented the upgrading and tuning of mass production cars. In detail, the new kit comprises cylinder liners and pistons with diameter 73.5 mm, set of valve springs, camshaft, cylinder head gasket, oil sump, Weber 28 carburettor, and complete exhaust with the relative mounting brackets. All components are presented in a special wooden box, reproduced with markings inspired by the original and with the Abarth Classiche seal guaranteeing a product designed and built in accordance with the best racing tradition of the brand with the Scorpion badge. The tune-up kit is available for sale online for EUR 2000 + VAT. For more information, please go to the "Store" section of the fcaheritage.com website.

 

Turin, 9 July 2019

 

 

 

Sign up for the newsletter.

SIGN UP NOW