1st Abarth Race Day – 1,000 Abarths in one place!
More than 1,000 Abarth cars from across Europe gathered at the Autodromo di Franciacorta (Brescia) on Saturday November 14th for the 1st Abarth Race Day – a day dedicated to the passion for the House of the Scorpion, with activities organised for all 3,000 attendees.
The owners – mostly of the Abarth 500 and Grande Punto, but also classic models such as 595 and 695 esseesse, 850 and 1000 TC, 124 Abarth Sport Spider, Ritmo (Strada) and Autobianchi A112 Abarth – had the opportunity to enjoy a few laps on the track, to meet drivers such as European Rally Champion Giandomenico Basso, Luca Rossetti and Umberto Scandola, who performed at the wheel of the Abarth Grande Punto S2000, Abarth 500 Assetto Corse and Abarth 500 R3T Rally.
1st Abarth Race Day
Among the other events were an electric karting race, driving simulators, and the chance to take a test drive with an instructor from the Abarth Sandro Munari Driving School. Parked in the paddock, along with the racing cars, were the newer models like the Abarth 695 “Tributo Ferrari” and Abarth Grande Punto “SuperSport”.
One of the highlights of the day was the Abarth 500 Assetto Corse race, which saw Italian Trofeo champion Salvatore Tavano and European champion Emanuele Moncini locked in a fierce, no-holds-barred battle, lasting the entire 30 minutes scheduled for the race.
At the start, after the first corner, contact between Alex Campani and Manuel Lasagni forced the deployment of the safety car. At the race resumption, with cold tyres, the duel between the two leaders became more heated. English driver Adam Jones finished fourth after starting from the pits. Third place went to Matteo Milani, while rally driver Andrea Dallavilla achieved 6th, after being passed in the final stages by Alan Simoni.
Results: 1. Salvatore Tavano 21 laps in 32’32″694, average of 97.524 km/h; 2. Emanuele Moncini to 1″411; 3. Matteo Milani at 5″126; 4. Adam Jones at 8″287; 5. Alan Simoni to 17″967; 6. Andrea Dallavilla to 18″984; 7. Franco Cimarelli to 19″968; 8. Tobias Tauber at 55″870; 9. Michela Cerruti at 1’11″265; 10. Paolo Scudieri at 1’18″033; 11. Giovanni Ciraso at 1’20″463; 12. Luca Cassol 1 lap. Fastest lap: Adam Jones in 1’21″801, an average speed of 110.859 km/h.