Diesel-powered Punto impresses in Tasmania

The Bits Of Italy-prepared Fiat Punto of Philip Buggee and Paul Freame has enjoyed another competition success, this time at the Tasmanian Tarmac Challenge, held over the weekend of October 4 and 5.

In addition to the regular tarmac rally competitors, the field also included many of the country’s best rally drivers, competing in a round of the Australian Rally Championship (ARC). The ARC competitors were competing on tarmac, not gravel roads, for the first time in the 50 years of ARC competition.

There was a prediction of a cold weather front to come in from the north west over the weekend that was expected to produce treacherous driving conditions for all the competitors, and true to form, that’s exactly the weather that arrived. The field of cars rarely enjoyed a dry road all weekend, until the very last stage on Sunday.
 
The BOI Punto continues to be a favourite with the spectators and also attracts considerable media attention because it is so different to ‘normal’ rally cars. Its incredible finish on the event -  1st Diesel, 2nd Showroom 2WD and 16th outright - was achieved with the astonishing fuel economy of only 44 litres used over the whole 450km of the event.

Putting it another way, with diesel fuel in Tasmania costing $1.79/ltr, the fuel used on the event only cost $78.76 for two days of competition. Is it any wonder there is considerable envy and amazement from the petrol powered competitors as they consume large quantities of premium unleaded petrol (PULP) that costs up to $5.00/ltr?

However, what the Punto lacks in thirst for fuel, it more than makes up for in absolute grunt. With the Punto’s turbo diesel engine producing a massive 300NM of torque, complimented by the astounding grip from Silverstone tyres, the stage times and its pace proved the BOI Punto is an incredibly competitive vehicle. The standard Fiat Punto features of traction and stability control were a bonus exploited by the crew in the extremely treacherous weather conditions.
 
Running the car in Showroom class means that apart from the addition of a roll cage and other required competition safety items, the Punto is basically as built originally by Fiat. Mechanical modifications are relatively minor to remain in this class. The Punto is both quiet and environmentally friendly.
 
Whilst tyre technicians from the other major tyre suppliers were in a constant frenzy with regrooving tools, cutting extra water drainage channels in a desperate search for grip, the Silverstone tyres on the Punto were providing the exceptional grip the others were searching for. These are road legal tyres as supplied by Silverstone for sporting motorists through the leading tyre retailers around the country.
 
The BOI Punto crew gave three TV interviews over the weekend, whilst they featured for 30 seconds on the Saturday sport news report, and another 40 seconds on the Sunday night news report.
 
The Punto will now be readied for the next event, possibly the Buller Sprint in a few weeks time. Forza Fiat Punto!

Photo: Nathan Hubble

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