15/05/2009: Abarth 500 Trophy: third round at Imola

The third round of the Abarth 500 Trophy will take place tomorrow (Saturday 16 May) and Sunday on Imola's renovated "autodromo" Enzo and Dino Ferrari. A total of 26 drivers are entered, all at the wheel of the Abarth 500 Assetto Corse.

After the first four races – two at Monza and two at Mugello – Sicily's Salvatore Tavano leads the standings thanks to his two outstanding wins obtained at the demanding track of Tuscany. Liguria's Manuel Villa stands second after winning the first race at Monza and always achieving top spot positions in the other races. Only one point adrift of Villa, Emilia's Andrea Rizzoli is third, just one point ahead of Venitian Nicola Baldan, winner of the second race at Monza.

The first four races have definitely been spectacular thanks to the performances of the Abarth 500 Assetto Corse which are fitted with a 190 CV engine combined with racing brakes and the settings of a real racing car, allowing a top speed of 220kph.

Thanks to its driveability and its performance attributes, the car has proven to be an excellent training tool for the young - some very young - drivers who have chosen this one-make championship open to 15-year old drivers who spent time at the Scuola Federale (Federal School). Among them emerge Friuli's Simone Monforte and Venitian Patrick Gobbo while Trentino's Tobias Tauber leads the standings in the Under-23 category.

The programme of the races at Imola is as follows:
Saturday 16, free practice at 9:00am, qualifying session at 2:00pm;
Sunday 17, Race 1 at 9:00am - Race 2 at 2:40pm.

Abarth 500 Trophy standings:
1. Salvatore Tavano 77 points;
2. Manuel Villa 61;
3. Andrea Rizzoli 60;
3. Nicola Baldan 59;
5. Raffaele Giammaria 56;
6. Denis Babuin 19;
7. Gianluca Giraudi and Tobias Tauber 17;
9. Enrico Fulgenzi and Emanuele Moncini 16.