STILO CUP GATHERS UK MOMENTUM

Fiat Auto UK held its first national rally test day at a private venue in southern England last week, with the threefold aim of presenting its new Stilo Rally Cup car to the specialist motorsport media; introducing the Panda Abarth Rally prototype; and demonstrating the extraordinarily successful 215bhp Punto S1600, which forms the 2005 UK prize drive for the winner of this year's aspiring Stilo Cup contestants.

Fiat Auto's long and distinguished heritage in motorsport includes three World Rally Championships with the Fiat 131 Abarth, but in recent years the company has focused on encouraging increased participation in the sport, and assisting 'grassroots' competitors through the creation of affordable but high profile one-make championships - first for Cinquecento and Seicento, and now for Stilo.

It is the latter championship which has this year been introduced to the UK. It features identical 187bhp factory prepared rally versions of the 3-door Stilo 1.8. The Stilo Rally Cup is incorporated in the British National Rally Championship, and after three rounds is being led by the young Welsh pairing of Chris Davies/Nathan Parry from Abergavenny.

Chris, just 19 years old, and sponsored by the Altrincham-based Halo Furniture Group, spent much of the test day acclimatising himself to Stilo tarmac suspension and racing tyres, with an eye very much on the next round - this weekend's Jim Clark Rally in the Scottish borders. "The miles I've driven here on slicks and tarmac suspension will certainly be helpful on the Jim Clark, with its asphalt closed road special stages," says Chris. "But the Stilo is a very genuine car, a real pleasure to drive. It's well put together, reliable, and doesn't spring any surprises on you. I get on well with it, and I'm confident behind the wheel. There's definitely more to come."

Fiat Auto UK is looking forward to further involvement with the Stilo Rally Cup next season, and is also negotiating to field two Stilo Cup cars at this year's Rally of Great Britain in September.

Remaining rounds of the 2004 Stilo Rally Cup are as follows:

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For further information please contact:

PETER NEWTON Public Relations Director

or

Puneet Joshi Press Officer

Fiat Auto (UK) Limited

Tel: 01753 511431

Fax: 01753 516871

E-mail addresses: peter.newton@fiat.com/puneet.joshi@fiat.com

This press release is also available on www.newspress.co.uk

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