Abarth likely to enter the WRC in the next two to three years

GrandePunto Abarth likely to enter the WRC in the next two to three years

Abarth looks set to enter the WRC in the next three years, according to Autosport magazine.

Abarth's business operations director Antonio Labate told Autosport:

WRC makes sense for Abarth. Racing is the soul of this brand so we need to compete in the right championship. We are building the brand in different European countries to finance the new position.

Obviously we would like to go to WRC. It's our dream and that dream is achievable. The Abarth brand is dramatically improving its viability. We have sold 20 per cent more units than Abarth's original objective and we are confident we will have the financing for the World Rally Championship in the next two or three years."

Abarth's racing operations director Nic Gullino said the team would wait for both the technical regulations and the commercial decision to come from the tender for the WRC's global promotion before it made any firm decisions on its future.

Gullino added:

We want to be competing in the right championship. Which is that? For next year, we believe the IRC.

For the future, we have to see. A simple solution (of rear wing and turbo) for the new (WRC) car would be okay, but there is a more simple solution - why not leave it at as S2000?"

Meanwhile, Anton Alen and Giandomencio Basso have been confirmed as Abarth's two factory IRC drivers for 2009. A third Punto will appear for Umberto Scandola in Monte Carlo and Sanremo.

Source: Autosport