Abarth raises profile for 2014

This season, the Abarth Europe Trophy will share four events with the WTCC and ETCC - at Le Castellet in France, Salzburgring in Austria, Spa Francorchamps in Belgium and Pergusa in Italy for four of the calendar's six events.

Mugello in Italy is also on the series' agenda, while it will conclude in classic style at Monza in October.

The Abarth Italy Trophy will be run in conjunction with the series and the simultaneous scheduling of the Italian and European races will allow drivers to take part in both without stretching their budgets.

Other international championships are the Abarth 500 Benelux Trophy and the Abarth 500 Scandinavia Trophy, which this year will be crossing the border for two races in Norway for the first time in addition to events across Sweden.

More than 150 drivers competed in the 2013 season trophies. The average age was remarkably young: the first four in the Abarth Europe and Italy rankings, for example, were all under 22.

The formula that has fostered many promising young drivers, giving them the opportunity to make their racing debut, is being consolidated even further this year by taking part in the Formula 4 Italian Championship for junior drivers from karting older than 15.

Key player of the championship will be a single-seater powered by an Abarth 1.4 T-Jet 'Dry Sump' 160 HP engine, perfect for securing top-notch performance while complying with FIA specifications.

Another addition will be the new Evoluzione version of the Abarth 695 Assetto Corse. With boosted performance secured by several improvements and a lighter weight, the engine will be joining the Abarth 695 Assetto Corse and the Abarth 500 Assetto Corse in the Italian and European championship line-up.

The basic 1.4 T-Jet engines which have been equipping Abarth 500 Assetto Corse for the past six editions will also provide power for new Abarth 695 Assetto Corse Evoluzione, delivering a power of 215 HP.