The sights and sounds of high-revving Dodge Challengers and Vipers are familiar to auto enthusiasts at the famous Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving. But visitors to the track, located 20 miles southwest of Phoenix, Ariz., will now find a small fleet of Fiat 500 Abarths and 124 Abarth Spider convertibles.The sporty Fiats are used in Bondurant’s new “Fiat Trackside” course, which is offered free for new buyers of Fiat Abarth vehicles.
The 500 Abarth is equipped with a 1.4-liter engine with twin intercoolers.
The course, which was introduced this month, follows Bondurant’s tradition of providing professional training on the mechanics of driving a road course. The course encompasses paved lots marked off with traffic cones and a 1.6 mile, 15-turn course.
The Abarth models are sportier versions of the Fiat base models, offering upgraded brakes, Koni shocks, and other performance features. The four-cylinder engine produces 165 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Both models can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than seven seconds.
During an introductory classroom presentation, Mike McGovern—the chief instructor who has been teaching at Bondurant for more than 10 years—offers driving advice that transfers from the track to the streets. He focuses on safe driving, emphasizing that drivers need to concentrate on the road. McGovern encourages participants to look three to six seconds ahead on the road, to set the car up for the next turn, and to be alert for unexpected traffic situations.
Fiat 124 Spider
He also notes that handling of any car is affected by three factors; acceleration, braking, and steering. “It’s easier to maneuver around an obstacle than trying to brake in front of it,” McGovern said.
The first day culminates with road-course laps behind Bondurant instructors, followed by sitting in the passenger seat for hot laps with the driving pros.
On the following day Bondurant, participants pair up to share a Fiat on a road rally through the Arizona countryside. They drive urban freeways and pass by beautiful scenery on a 100-mile route to Payson, Ariz. The combination of urban and rural conditions gives students the chance to practice new skills on actual roads.
“The driving course was fantastic,” said Maz Moallem, one of the recent participants. “It was more memorable than my track day at Thunderhill Raceway with my Porsche Boxster, because I spent more time driving instead of getting instructions.”
Bondurant is offering the Fiat experience twice a month. Owners who buy or lease a new Abarth can attend the course for free, but it’s offered to others for a fee.
