Giandomenico Basso, 36, from Cavaso del Tomba, has so far spent his entire racing career with Abarth. He first demonstrated his talent by winning the 1998 Trofeo Cinquecento, and went on to take the 2007 Italian Rally Championship and the 2006 Intercontinental Rally Challenge driver’s title.

This season, he won five races: 1000 Miglia Rally, Bulgaria, Madeira in Portugal, ELPA in Greece and Antibes in France.

The Abarth Grande Punto S2000 has proven to be competitive on the various surfaces featured all season long: from the winding asphalt roads of the 1000 Miglia Rally, Madeira Rally and Rallye du Valais to the fast roads of Bulgaria and Antibes, not to mention the rough gravel of the ELPA Rally in Greece.

At the last event, held in Switzerland, Basso drove with the aim of scoring enough points to clinch the European title. He nevertheless finished in a remarkable second place.

European Rally Championship standings: 1. Giandomenico Basso (I, Abarth) 122 points; 2. Michal Solowow (PL, Peugeot) 100; 3. Corrado Fontana (I, Peugeot and Mitsubishi) 78; 4. Krum Donkev (BG, Subaru) 43; 5. Luca Betti (I, Peugeot) 34.

Rallye du Valais classification: 1. Hotz-Ravasi (Peugeot 207 S2000), 2hr 53min29.8s; 2. Basso-Dotta (Abarth Grande Punto S2000) + 53.7s; 3. Solowow-Baran (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 5min27.7s; 4. Gonon-Arlettaz (Subaru Impreza) + 6min34.5s; 5. Bouffier-Gilsoul (Citroën C2) + 11min20.8s.

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.

The series is expected to support key race weekends throughout the season, including the FIA World Touring Car Championship, the British Touring Car Championship and the British Superbike Championship.

The series will compete at Brands Hatch, Cadwell Park, Silverstone, Snetterton, Oulton Park and – in a link-up with the European trophy – Monza, Italy.

Comedian Patrick Kielty and supermodel Jodie Kidd attended the launch event

The Abarth dealer network has been encouraged to support the series, and eight dealers – Platts Garages (Stoke on Trent), Thames (Slough), S. G. Petch (York), Lipscomb (Maidstone), Fiat Marylebone (London), Rockingham Cars (Rockingham), Glyn Hopkin (Romford), and Vospers (Plymouth) – have confirmed their involvement for the 2010 series.

Six race teams have so far committed to the series: Advent Motorsport with drivers Vicki Butler-Henderson, Josh Wakefield, and James Blyth; Coastal Racing with drivers Carl Bradley; Rees Sport; Tech 9; Pyro Motorsport. 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.

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.

2010 Trofeo Abarth 500 GB Calendar

More information about the Trofeo Abarth 500 GB can be found on the official website: www.trofeoabarth500gb.com.

Frenchman Benoît Perret finished third, leading to the unusual situation of the finishing order reflecting the closing order of the championship, as Perret also took third place in the trophy standings.

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.

An aggressive 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 but then made attempts to climb up the leaderboard in the first lap. In the second lap, Campani went off the track, handing first place to Villa. The two championship leaders then initiated their long battle for the title.

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. Milani’s retirement handed third place over to the Frenchman, allowing him to conclude the season on the podium.

Emanuele Moncini wins the Trofeo Abarth 500 Europe

Of particular note 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.

Open until the end, the 12-leg championship was spread over six rounds. Starting at Valencia (Spain), the series moved to Brno (Czech Republic), Porto (Portugal), Brands Hatch (England), and Oschersleben (Germany), before 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 attracted to the series.

The show is due to be repeated next year. Like this year, the Trofeo Abarth 500 Europe will feature the Abarth 500 Assetto Corse, a high-performance version of the Abarth 500 road car that has proved to be highly competitive on the demanding circuits it has raced on, thanks in no small part to the 190bhp delivered by its 1400cc turbocharged engine.

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.