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Peugeot supports Fiat
Peugeot Sport Director Jean-Pierre Nicolas stated yesterday Friday 17 March that Peugeot was happy that the Fiat Abarth was finally accepted by the FIA this week (Thursday 16 March) into the Super 2000. "In fact we agree with Fiat that there is a problem with the specified price cap for selling cars (Euros 150,000). We agree that it is impossible to build Super 2000 rally cars within that price limit. We are pleased that the formula has finally got officially off the ground, because at last people everywhere will be able to see what the formula is all about".
There was criticism that Fiat had paid insufficient respect to the spirit of the rules when choosing the specification of the design and was cavalier in their approach to the financial issues involved. Fiats made a slow start to the first rally in which they are allowed to compete under full FIA rules (the Ciocco Rally in Italy).
On the short opening stage held yesterday evening, Navarra was laying 7th and Andreucci 13th. Leading were the Mitsubishi group N cars of Cunico and Dallavilla, ahead of the Subarus of Aghini and Longhi. This Italian championship event finishes on Sunday. With the occasional exception of the Fiat Punto Super 1600, the Super 2000 car is the first really competitive rally car from Italy for over 10 years.
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De Fiat lijkt trouwens de groep N wagens te kloppen in zijn eerste race.