The biggest gathering of Abarths ever seen in the UK is just one of the attractions at the Donington Italian Festival on 31st August/1st September 2002. The event combines a full race programme on the Sunday with the opportunity for hands-on track driving experience on the Saturday - plus demonstrations throughout the weekend of some of the most extravagantly conceived classic and modern Italian cars the world has ever seen. Attractions include:

The first Abarth World Meeting to take place in the UK (hosted by the Abarth Club of Great Britain)
For many, this will be the first chance to see some of the more unusual models built under the sign of the Scorpion. Demonstrations of Double Bubble 750 Coupes, Abarth Bialbero 1000 Coupes, Abarth Simca Coupes and Due Mille cars will stir memories, complemented by the unexpected sight of 120mph racing Fiat 600s. Representing Abarth’s sports and sports racing period will be exquisite 1000SPs and the larger, more developed 2000SP versions. In particular, there will be a rare glimpse of the fabulous 1970 3-litre V8 mountain climb prototype.

Demonstration runs by modern F1 machinery
The chance to see live F1 action, including Schumacher’s World Championship-winning F1 Ferrari from 2000; plus Schumacher’s 1999 car and an ex-Alesi F1.

Guest Appearance by Giorgio Pianta
Giorgio Pianta joined Abarth in the early 1970s, later becoming test driver, race driver and team manager during the successful rallying years, with cars which varied from sports prototypes to Fiat 124 Abarths, Fiat 131 Abarths, Lancia 037, Delta S4 and through all the Integrales. He was also team manager of Alfa Romeo saloon racing in Italy, before heading up the now legendary Alfa DTM and ITC teams, plus Alfa’s Indycar effort. Pianta will be joined by Abarth designer and engineer Mario Colucci, who was responsible for the sports prototypes from the mid ‘60s until the mid ‘70s.

Saturday 31st August – Track Day and Testing
On the Saturday, Donington opens its gates to road cars in a pre-race testing and circuit driving day where motorsport fans can drive the circuit for themselves by pre-booking track time in their own cars (any make and model – it doesn’t have to be Italian).
Full track day: £165 per car. Pre-bookings only.
Call 020 8402 1710 or email [email protected]
Spectators: £5 on the day.

Sunday 1st September – Race Day
Sunday’s Italian-themed race programme covers the full spectrum of classic, Historic and modern Italian racing, from the Pirelli Maranello Ferrari Championship to sports prototypes of the 1960s and 1970s, through Alfa Romeo GTAs, Italian production saloons, to the powerful single-seaters of the EuroBOSS series.
Entry: £10 on the day; or £8 in advance.
Call 020 8402 1710 or email [email protected]