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News 2001
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News from January to December 2004

New cars added to the gallery (Dec 18th 2004)

During the seasons other than summer, my spare time is still low, but I'm still able to update the greatest users gallery:


Fraser suggests how to remove the HGT engine rattle (Dec 11th 2004)

I added Fraser's suggestion in the FAQ page about the Punto HGT engine rattle when cold or at low revs.


Leon Pesticcio at Tempest Rally (Nov 20th 2004)

In the page of the European 2004 rallies I added some pictures of Leon Pesticcio with Hi-tec's red Fiat Punto Abarth at the Tempest Rally, run in the Southeastern England from November 5th to 6th, 2004.


New questions and answers added in the FAQ (Aug 13th 2004)

New FAQs have been added in the FAQ page about Punto GT engine emplantment, the update from Mk2 to Mk2B and Lexus-style lights.


Added pictures of Rally of Ciocco 2004 (Aug 12th 2004)

You may look at some pictures of Rally del Ciocco e Valle del Serchio, the second round of the Italian Rally Championship, where Paolo Andreucci and Anna Andreussi won the event with a Fiat Punto Abarth 2004.


Formula 2 Design page added (Aug 12th 2004)

Another bodykit maker page appears in the bodykits page: it's Formula 2 Design from Bologna. They sell two different bodykits, although their masterpiece are probably the stylish taillights. Click here for their own page in Puntopower.com.


Gallery update completed: yesssss!!!! (Aug 12th 2004)

At last I was able to complete to answer to everybody who wrote me since February. All the cars have been updated or added to the users gallery. Here there are the last cars updated:


New cars even today (Aug 11th 2004)

Even today there are some new cars added to the gallery. Several car pages have been updated without being listed here:


Update your Punto Mk2 to Mk2 revision B like Geoffrey! (Aug 11th 2004)

Geoffrey Apel, one of the most active and passionate fans of PuntoPower.com sent me some pictures of his own blue sprint Punto HGT Mk2 updated to the revision B.
Geoffrey updated the complete front part, with the Mk2 revision B bumper, the new lights, the new grid mask, and the bonnet. Even the rear part has been updated with new rear lights, the Fiat logo on the centre of the backdoor and other minor details. An interesting update to keep his own car updated to the latest version, like softwares! Click here to see more pictures of Geoffrey's update.


New Punto Mk2 Project 199 added (Aug 11th 2004)

I added new pictures of Fiat Punto Mk3, rumoured for the end of 2005. The new version won't me a restyling, but a full new edition. Bigger wheels are being proven on the top models, as you can see in this page.


The mailbox queue is ending up... (Aug 10th 2004)

The big update is going on even today. Here there are the updated pages:


Great bargain's last units! (Aug 9th 2004)

A great offer for all the PuntoPower friends: the opportunity to get a Fiat Punto HGT Abarth Mk2 at an unforeseen price: 12,991 Euro!!!! Only two colours are available: some units are broom yellow and only one in orange calypso. Remember these units are RIGHT HAND DRIVE.

Technical Specification

  • Capacity 4 Cylinders 1747 cc DOHC (with hydraulic tappets)
  • Maximum Power 96 kW / 130 bhp @ 6300 rpm
  • Peak Torque 164 Nm @ 4300 rpm
  • Dimensions Length 3800 mm
  • Performance Acceleration (0-100 km/h) 8.6 secs
  • Top Speed 205 km/h
  • Driver and Passenger Airbag
  • Remote Controlled Central Door Locking
  • Electronic Immobiliser (FIAT CODE)
  • Side Intrusion Beams
  • Front and Rear Seats with Anti-submarining Cross Beam
  • Child Proof Anti-burst locks
  • Energy Absorbing and Collapsible Steering Wheel
  • Exhaust Catalyst
  • Fire Prevention System (FPS) with Inertia Switch on Fuel Pump
  • Front and Rear Crumple Zone
  • Height Adjustable Front Seatbelts with Pre-Tensioners and Load Limiters
  • Electric Sunroof
  • ABS Brakes
  • Front and Rear Disc Brakes
  • Alloy Wheels with Sport Design
  • Electric Front Windows + Electric Deadlocks
  • Rear Head Rests (3)
  • Front and Rear Body Coloured Bumpers with Sport Design
  • Kit Miniskirt with Logo Abarth
  • Abarth Spoiler
  • Aluminium Hand Brake and Gear Knob
  • Kit Sport Pedals
  • Sport Design Leather Steering Wheel
  • cloth black/blue int

Please contact the webmaster if you are interested into getting one of these units!


Belgian Rally Championship 2004 (Aug 8th 2004)

Maurice Simoens sent me some pictures of Paolo Andreucci's test with Fiat Punto Rally managed by Fiat Junior Team and driven in the Belgian Rally Championship 2004 by Bernd Casier. A new page has been added to the European rallying activities 2004.


Sunday update in the gallery (Aug 8th 2004)

The big update is going on even today. Here there are the updated pages:


Sure: August will bring a great update (Aug 7th 2004)

Yesterday was my last working day, before summer holidays. Here I am to upload tons of pictures!


Will August bring an huge user gallery update? (Aug 1st 2004)

I really hope to find some spare time during next season holidays. Central weeks of August should be free from my work and my projects: that means that Puntopower will be updated with all those pictures and gallery information still lying in my message folders waiting to be processed. Today it's the update for these wonderful cars:


Added pictures from Rally of San Martino di Castrozza (Aug 1st 2004)

I have just added some pictures I took at Rally of San Martino di Castrozza, where Basso has a peremptory victory. Click here to reach the San Martino di Castrozza Rally page, where the Fiat Punto Rally Super1600 ruled all the remaining crews!


Giandomenico Basso wins the Rally of San Martino di Castrozza (Jul 15th 2004)

Seventh round of the Italian Rally Championship is marked by the peremptory victory of Giandomenico Basso and Mitia Dotta with N Technology rented Fiat Punto Abarth assisted at the Rally of San Martino and Primiero by Trico Motor Sport. The Veneto driver promised fierce battle before the event:  I need absolutely to get as many points as possible, if I want to keep some chance for the Italian championship . Basso maintained his promise and won the Alpin rally with remarkable scratches during the last weekend.
He got the leadership very earlier on the first stage, the spectators superstage of 1,32 km run in high and luxury Alpin town of San Martino di Castrozza. Click here for more information.


Paolo Andreucci second at Rally of Salento (Jun 21th 2004)

The sixth round of Italian Rally Champioship - Rally del Salento - ended with the 2nd final place of Paolo Andreucci's Fiat Punto Abarth Rally (Super 1600). The Italian reigning champion finished with less than 30'' gap from the winner Dallavilla (Renault) and with more than 30'' on Longhi's Subaru (3rd). Giandomenico Basso on Fiat Punto Abarth Rally was forced to retire after an incident during the 23rd stage when he was 4th.
Andreucci's Fiat Punto Abarth Rally showed an high level performance with 7 special stages won: he was able to finish the first leg in first position and to keep this position until the fifth special stage of the second leg, nothwistanding he went a little bit out of the road during special stage number 16. The final fight with Dallavilla suggested Andreucci not to force anymore in order to keep the final second place taking no risk. Click here for more information.


New cars in the gallery (Jun 13th 2004)

New cars this morning in the gallery and some updates too:


Late spring's gallery update (Jun 12th 2004)

New cars this morning in the gallery and some updates too:


Mid spring's gallery update (May 19th 2004)

New cars this morning in the gallery and some updates too:


Rally Millemiglia 2004 report (May 17th 2004)

I went at Millemiglia Rally 2004 more than one month ago, but I was able to put my report online only now. Please I apologize for these late postings, but my spare time still keeps on being equal to zero. Click here for the report.


Ammann's car added (May 2nd 2004)

You keep on sending me pictures and information about your cars: today I found some spare time and I put online Ralph Ammann's Punto HGT from Switzerland.


Andreucci wins Rally of Ciocco (Mar 20th 2004)

The Fiat Punto wins the first tarmac round of the Italian Rally Championship! Paolo Andreucci, codriven with Anna Andreussi, flies with the 2004 model, but Giandomenico Basso showed great performance and achieved best times on the two-days event. More information here.


Pictures of new Punto at Tutta Terra Toscana 2004 (Mar 15th 2004)

I added to the Tutta Terra Toscana 2004 page the pictures of the Fiat Punto Rally 2004 edition. Click TTT 2004 for all the pictures.


The Rally Team Fiat Punto Reunion (Mar 7th 2004)

In the centre of the Indian Ocean, there is a small group of islands, the Reunion Islands, where there is a local rally championship and they even host a round of the African Rally Championship. Nevertheless they have also a Fiat Punto Rally team: that's quite amazing; that's why I added a special page for that team. Click here to read the story.


The update goes on... (Mar 6th 2004)

New cars this morning in the gallery and some updates too:


Another 18th'er from Ireland (Mar 6th 2004)

Another guy from Ireland sent me some pictures of his own Punto Sporting, equipped with 18" light alloy wheels. You may admire his the five-stars car here.


The first tuned Punto Mk2 revision B! (Mar 5th 2004)

The level of tuning is not high, but this is the first tuned Punto Sporting Mk2 rev.b! It's the Guillaume Burgos' Punto Sporting Mk2b 1.4 16v.


Tutta Terra Toscana Rally (Feb 29th 2004)

I just added my reports about Tutta Terra Toscana Rally 2004. Pictures are still coming, but it is really worthy to wait them because they show the debut of the Fiat Punto Rally Abarth.


The winter update goes on... (Feb 28th 2004)

I am uploading all the updates a bit slowly, but please feel sure: I will upload anybody who sent something in the last months!


The big winter gallery update (Feb 25th 2004)

Due to really lack of spare time for my website, I managed to upload almost all the new cars for the Puntopower gallery and almost all the users who like to appear in the longer and longer list. Please sit down, because the updates are really interesting!


Alex Broccoli fourth at first Junior outing (Jan 25th 2004)

Fourth position in the Junior World Rally Championship for the Sanmarinese Alessandro Broccoli, codriven by Giovanni Agnese, on the Fiat Punto Abarth Super1600, in the opening round of the world series, the Monte Carlo Rallye. Started in the Sunday morning in third position, Broccoli freed the position in favour of the Briton Kris Meeke (Opel Corsa Super1600) for only 7 seconds, due to a freak spin.
The Junior winner is the French specialist Nicolas Bernardi with the works Renault Clio. Anyway Broccoli, who run with the Hi-tec team, considers the Principality's result a positive one, looking at the next events of the championship reserved for Under 28 drivers and Super1600 cars.
Managed by Grifone Avvenire team, another Fiat Punto Rally ended the event in ninth position: the French guy Mathieu Biasion, a far relation with the two times world rally champion Miki Biasion, appeared in the Italian rally panorama with the Stilo Trophy 2003, where the French youngster succeeded with very good scratches with the Stilo used for the omonimous challenge.
Next rounds of the Junior Championship will return at the end of May, with the hardest gravel events of the rallying world, the Acropolis Rally (Greece) and the Rally of Turkey. The Junior World Championship, which accounts seven rounds, continues in Finland, Great Britain, Italy and it ends in Spain with the Rallye Catalunya.


New challenge for Fiat youngsters (Jan 22nd 2004)

Five Fiat Punto Abarth take part in the 2004 Junior World Rally Championship - the special category reserved to young drivers under 28 years old and to Super 1600 cars, two wheels drives and 1600 cc engines - that starts on Thursday 22nd of Genuary with the Rallye Montecarlo.
The drivers who have choosen Fiat Punto Abarth are the Italians Alan Scorcioni, Luca Tabaton (winners of Trofeo Fiat Punto Abarth and Trofeo Fiat Stilo Abarth 2003), Alessandro Broccoli, the French Mathieu Biasion and the Spanish Xavier Pons, this one supported by the Catalan Federation.
Scorcioni, Tabaton and Biasion will run with the colours of Team Grifone Avvenire, directed by Fabrizio Tabaton, ex European and Italian rally champion, while Broccoli and Pons will drive with the Team Hi-Tec, the same that last year won the Sanremo Rally.
The Junior World Rally Championship, this is the fourth edition, has 21 drivers in the entry list and the calendar provides seven race: after Montecarlo, there will be the Acropolis Rally (Greece), the Rally of Turkey, the Neste Rally Finland, the Wales Rally GB (Great Britain), the Rallye d'Italia (Italy) and the Rally Catalunia (Spain).
For Scorcioni and Tabaton this Championship is the prize for the success in the Italian Trofeo Fiat. Scorcioni won the Trofeo Fiat Stilo Abarth 2002 and than, in the 2003 season, won the Under 27 category of Trofeo Fiat Punto Abarth. Tabaton won in 2003 the overall and the Under 25 category of Trofeo Fiat Stilo Abarth. Biasion also comes from the Italian Trofeo Fiat Stilo Abarth. Broccoli finisched the Junior Championship 2003 in 8th position with Opel Corsa and his best result was the third place in Montecarlo. Pons has a good "curriculum" in motocross and enduro (Enduro World Champion in 2000) and in 2002 came out in the Spanish Rally Championship on gravel.
All the cars have the technical support of N.Technology that will be in the park assistance with a truck, engineers and mechanics.
Rallye Montecarlo provides three legs that start on Thursday 22nd of Genuary and finish on Sunday 25th: fifteen special stages for 400 km.


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