Leaders Hillclimb Multi Car Challenge - Abarth

From A45 to Abarth as Al Suttie's hillclimb adventure continues at Harewood

The operative word in the Leaders Multi Car Hillclimb Challenge was all too clearly 'challenge' as we pitched up for the second round at Harewood in North Yorkshire. This is a fantastic hillclimb course in a natural bowl that makes for great driving and viewing. The weather, however, decided to put the 'challenge' into the plan for the weekend.

Dogring 'box not ideal for standing starts

Adding to our dawning sense of what we'd opened ourselves up to was the small detail of not having driven the car we were competing in. So, my first experience of the Abarth 695 Biposto was trundling down to the start line for first practice on a cold, damp track. Great.

Initial impressions of the Biposto were the clutch was biting very high in its travel and the £8,500 optional dogring kit for the gearbox made first gear reluctant to engage. As it turned out, the gearbox became smoother and better as the weekend progressed through familiarity and getting it very well warmed up.

With 190hp from its turbocharged 1.4-litre engine, the Biposto registers 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds. For some, the £33,055 starting price will seem steep, never mind the fully loaded version's £53,720 sticker price. Even so, that does bag you some very trick bits such as the gearbox, Akrapovic exhaust, race seats and harnesses, carbon door cards and centre console, plus adjustable front suspension.

You may also spot the Abarth runs in Class A1 compared to A2 for the AMG we competed in at Prescott. Most of the cars we will be driving fall into Class A2 for production cars over 2000cc, but we just couldn't resist the chance to try the 695 Biposto on a hillclimb.

Locking diff beneficial here

Practice makes...
First and second practice runs were more about remembering lines, braking points and exits, as well as building up the brave reserves not to brake early for the final corner onto the finish line. The third and final practice on Saturday banked a respectable mid-71 second time as the track had dried out.

Much of the remainder of Saturday was spent discussing the weather and hoping it would be warmer on Sunday for better times. It was a chance to talk 695 Biposto with the huge number of people interested in the car, which was causing a bit of stir with several Ferrari owners. A big hello to PHer Andy Sherratt who popped by to say hello and who went very well in his Fiat Coupe that added a more affordable Latin sparkle to the weekend.

We also owe a big thank you to Alan Woodhead of the White Knights group of Blood Bikers, who came along to help raise awareness of The National Association of Blood Bikes. They do an amazing job to support the NHS, so any help we can offer in return with donations or volunteering is more than worth it. See the website for more information.

Day of reckoning
Sunday dawned cool but bright and it was evident the weather was going to play ball much more than on Saturday. It was disappointing, therefore, to put in a 72.67 second last practice run to be slower than on Saturday.

Two seats, two drivers, one class win!

My first timed run was 71.23, which was again a little deflating. Perhaps it was the gee up I needed, plus team-mate David popping in a 70.90 second first competition run. For the final competition run, I felt I had the measure of the Biposto's clutch and gearbox, and how to get it off the line without wasting time with too much wheelspin. It wasn't the best start of the weekend, but the rest of the run was consistently faster and ended with a 70.60 second time.

This was achieved by taking the Abarth by the scruff of its neck and in some ways over-driving it. Whenever I was smooth, the times were off the pace, but as soon as I trusted in the front end grip, pushed harder into the corners and used much more throttle earlier than felt right the car responded with improved times.

While such an aggressive driving style shouldn't work, especially at a flowing track like Harewood, the 695 Biposto seems to be a feisty wee car that wants to be driven as hard as possible. The rear end will step out but it's easily gathered up, which meant I could push very hard into the last corner to brake and change down while catching the oversteer before a last push over the line. Not smooth, but it netted the best time in class.

A class win is very satisfying, especially in trying conditions and against a very able, competitive team-mate. It also sets up more of a showdown for our next event at Shelsley Walsh in a very different car, so the challenge starts all over again.

Fiat 500 Abarth 695 Biposto Hillclimb