Follow Ben Winrow in the Trofeo Abarth GB

Championship Victory By Ben Winrow at Monza

Research Garage's Abarth 500 was driven to championship victory by Ben Winrow at Monza at the weekend after two 9th place finishes.

The usual UK driver line up was joined by the Europa and Italian Trofeo Abarth 500 championships making for a much larger grid than usual. Ben had to start the first race from the pit lane due to some last minute complications but after a fantastic drive he made up 14 places to grab a 9th place finish and seal the championship victory.

Ben Winrow; "Before the race I knew that I had to just keep it together and bring it home… congratulations to Stefan, a great driver and a great drive. I’ve won the Championship! It hasn’t quite sunk in yet and each championship win is obviously special – I had a very professional team behind me with Mark and the boys at Pyro, thank you. My sponsors, Stratos Control Systems, Managed Support Services, Speciality Desserts and Research Garage Abarth, thank you. And, of course, Mum (Helen) and Dad (Paul) who have been with me all the way – thanks and love to them."

The final results table is as follows:-

Ben Winrow lifts the crown with 224 points

Stefan Hodgetts, 2nd with 215 points

3rd, Charlie Butler-Henderson with 182 points

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Monza 23/24 October

Ben is currently leading the Abarth 500 GB championship with just one race weekend remaining!  Ben has two races and will only need to take 6th place in one of the events to be crowned the 2010 Championship winner. However, it won't be easy, Ben will have to face an in form Hodgetts and the UK drivers will be joined on the grid by the Italian Abarth series at the fast paced Monza circuit. Hopefully he can win the championship trophy for Research Abarth and Ben Winrow will be the first ever UK Trofeo Abarth 500 GB Champion.

Silverstone - 24/25 July - results 2nd and 2nd. View Race Report

Brands Hatch - 4/5 Sept - results 2nd and 2nd. View Race Reportand Here

Click here to purchase an Abarth 500 for yourself .

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Ben leads in the Trofeo Abarth 500 GB.

The Research Garage Abarth sponsored car of Ben Winrow is topping the Championship leader-board going into Race 9 at Silverstone Classic weekend July 24th-25th.

A fine performance in round 3 at Cadwell Park in May placed Ben 2nd overall with 92 points – just behind leader Charlie Butler-Henderson on 94. Ben narrowly missed out on pole position for race 7 of the Championship at Snetterton on the 26th and 27th June where he qualified just 0.124 seconds behind Stefan Hodgetts at the 1.95 mile Norwich circuit.

But the sun was shining and Ben was on top form. After half an hour he’d taken top spot on the podium for his 2nd race win of the Championship. Setting the fastest time of the race (1:20.719) he was now in pole position going into race 8 the following day.

And what a dramatic race it was! Ben and Stefan – competing for all important championship points – raced hard into the first corner with our Ben coming off best. Many of the leading drivers were caught up in the incident but Ben went onto take pride of place on the podium again and now leads the 2010 Trofeo Abarth 500 GB ahead of Charlie Butler-Henderson and Josh Wakefield.

Ben said: “Unfortunately there was a touch at the first turn, but we were on pole and had the inside position...it’s unfortunate but that’s racing. Stefan is a great driver and there are some good drivers in the Trofeo Abarth 500 GB really getting on the pace. I’d like to thank my sponsors – MSS, Stratos Systems and Research Garage Abarth for their support and I’m looking forward to the Silverstone Classic which will be a great event”.

Good luck for Silverstone, Ben!

Races 1 & 2 – Oulton Park, 3rd-5th April 2010

Ben got away to a flying start in the first ever Zing Trofeo  Abarth 500 GB race at Oulton Park on  Saturday 3rd April 2010 by qualifying in pole position. The former Clio Cup Champion started the season at the front of the grid of thirteen after setting a time of 1.56.394. But it wasn’t to be Ben’s day as he was forced to retire only a couple of laps in, letting Gareth Howell through to take the win.

Due to not finishing the first race, Ben was forced to start the second race from the back, but by putting in the performance of the weekend he battled his way through up to 4th place at the end of lap one and later passed Charlie Butler – Henderson to take his well deserved place on the podium in 3rd.

Races 3 and 4 – Silverstone, 17th – 18th April 2010

Team Pyro’s Ben Winrow delighted spectators by again taking pole position in qualifying for round 2 of the championship with a time of 2:10:667. He beat Stefan Hodgetts -a BTCC and Clio Cup competitor  - and new addition to the Trofeo Championship – to the top spot. Ben said:

“It was a really good session. It’s a lovely day – nice and warm, but it still took a little longer than I thought to get the tyre temperature up. It’s great to have Stefan Hodgetts here this weekend to push me”.

Hodgetts went on to pip Ben at the post by taking his first win of the Championship and, by setting the fastest lap of 2:10:830, took pole position for Sunday’s race.

Race 4 of the Championship took place at Silverstone on Sunday 18th after a spectacular aerobatic display organised by Abarth.

With Ben starting from 2nd place, he had it all to do to get past close rival Hodgetts, but after taking the lead early on he went on to win his first race in very convincing fashion. By the finish Ben had worked out a 26 second lead over 2nd placed Gareth Howell and comfortably took his first win of the championship.

With such an emphatic victory Ben looks to be the one to watch! Well done Ben!!

 Here are the full results from race 4:

Position	Car Number	Driver Name / Team	Gap
1	4	Ben Winrow/Pyro Motorsport	30:51:753
2	9	Gareth Howell	26:329
3	7	Charlie Butler-Henderson	29:745
4	45	Josh Wakefield	30:423
5	2	Paul Smith	31:283
6	81	Matt Shead	50:576
7	77	Roger Green /Trofeo Abarth 500 GB	1:09:27
8	22	Benny Simonsen	1:12:352
9	72	Cassey Watson	1:22:712
10	11	Sarah Franklin	1:54:681
11	82	Fiona Leggate	1:56:681
DNF	3	Stefan Hodgetts

Here’s some footage of the day including podium interviews with Ben and Stefan.

Congratulations to Ben from all at Research Abarth.  Keep up the good work!

Why not make a trip to us at Research Abarth to see Ben’s winning Trofeo 500 on display in the showroom! The car will be on display up to just before the next race at Cadwell Park.

Coming up: Round 3, Cadwell Park, 22nd- 23rd May.

Ben Winrow, the 2008 Clio Cup Champion has announced that he will compete in the Trofeo Abarth 500 GB in 2010.

24 year old Ben, the winner of the 2008 BRDC Rising Star Award commented:

“It is good to see a new one make championship in the UK. The first year in any manufacturer supported championship is always special. I’m looking forward to getting back in the driving seat. The championship provides a great opportunity and we’ll see what we can do with it.”

Championship Organiser Paolo Callea said:

"It’s fantastic to be able to announce Ben’s entry into the first season of the Trofeo Abarth 500 GB. We have worked hard to create a series that is attra ctive to drivers and it is very rewarding to sign up drivers of Ben’s calibre.”

Ben’s entry also means that there is a new team on the grid. Team Pyro brings the number of teams to six. With most teams running multiple cars in the series, the grid is looking solid for 2010.

Ben Winrow's Abarth 500

Please click on an image for a larger view.

Racing Calendar

The Confirmed Trofeo Abarth 500 GB Calendar – 2010:

Date	Venue
3/5 April	Oulton Park (British F3/ British GT)
17/18 April	Silverstone GP (FIA Formula Two)
22/23 May	Cadwell Park (British Superbikes)
26/27 June	Snetterton (GT Cup Championship & Formula Palmer Audi)
24/25 July	Silverstone GP (Silverstone Classic)
4/5 September	Brands Hatch Indy (DTM / Trofeo Europe*)
23/24 October	Monza, Italy (Trofeo Europe / Italy / GB)