Fiat Auto UK’s three-car team, comprising the youngest manufacturer-backed driver line-up ever entered for the Wales Rally GB (16-19 September, 2004), were at Walters Arena (Rheola) last week to shake down their 187bhp Fiat Stilo Rally Cup specification cars in advance of the manufacturer’s forthcoming involvement in World Championship rallying.
With an average age of just 21, the official Fiat Auto UK entry is headed by 22-year-old Leon Pesticcio (Bridgend). Joining him is Abergavenny’s Chris Davies (19) and Italian Andrea Perego (23), both of whom are leading the UK’ s 2004 Stilo Cup and Italy’s Trofeo Stilo respectively.
Pesticcio has swapped his usual Punto S1600 seat for a Stilo drive, and will be partnered, as usual, by the experienced Tim Sturla. The pair have been busy so far this year, with forays on the British and Italian National Championships, as well as rounds of the JWRC.
He commented after the test “It was good to finally get some time at thewheel of the Stilo before Rally GB. It took a bit of adjustment going back to an H-pattern gearbox after my Punto’s sequential box but the car seems well balanced and is great to drive.”
Chris Davies joins Fiat Auto UK’s Rally GB team with co-driver and fellowWelshman Nathan Parry, the crew’s entry on the event also being a WRC first. The youngest member of the team, Davies will join Pesticcio in representing Wales on their home ground. After the shakedown, he commented:
“If it’s anything like today, the rally’s going to be a dry, dusty few days. The Stilo felt great over the gravel at Walters and the car was flowing nicely between the corners. We were kicking up a huge dust cloud, so if the weather holds, spectators might want to come armed with face wipes!’
Perego who will be partnered by experienced co-driver, Claudio Vischioni,will be making his UK and WRC debut in Wales.
Fiat’s policy of investing in youth and supporting grassroots rallyinitiatives is a deliberate one. Peter Newton, Public Relations Director,Fiat Auto UK, comments:
‘Across all forms of motorsport, the opportunities for young drivers arebecoming increasingly rarefied.
‘Fiat has a rich rallying heritage, including World Championship titles in 1977, 1978 and 1980. Through the Rally GB team and the Fiat Stilo Cup, Fiat Auto UK has this year re-entered the fray and we are currently looking at a number of possible incentives to step up our involvement in 2005.’
