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ItalianCar | March 19, 2024

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Italiaspeed launches its 2007 Italian Automotive Awards

Italiaspeed launches its 2007 Italian Automotive Awards
David Bateson

Fellow Italian car website Italiaspeed (www.italiaspeed.com) operated by Interfuture Media and supported by UK Alfa and Fiat dealership Mangoletsi, have just announced the 2nd Italiaspeed Italian Automotive Awards 2007 – annual awards devoted exclusively to the Italian automotive industry, voted for entirely by Italian car enthusiasts.

Italiaspeed tell us last year’s inaugural awards drew 119,436 votes cast across the nine categories with outstanding winners including the Alfa Spider (Production Car), Alfa 8C Competizione (Exotic), Fiat Ducato (Commercial), Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina (Coachbuilt), Lancia Delta HPE (Concept), Blue&Me (Technology), Ferrari 248 F1 (Motor Racing), Sergio Marchionne (Executive) and Michael Schumacher (Sportsperson). The voting categories this year include ‘Exotic of the Year’, ‘Production Car of the Year’, ‘Commercial Vehicle of the Year’, ‘Coachbuilt Car of the Year’, ‘Concept Car of the Year’, ‘Technology of the Year’, ‘Competition Car of the Year’, ‘Executive of the Year’ and ‘Sportsperson of the Year’.

Runaway favourite in Italiaspeed’s opinion for the Production Car of the Year award is the new Fiat 500, up against other contenders in this category such as the Fiat Bravo and Grande Punto Abarth. The competition in the Exotic category is also tough this year, including the Ferrari 430 Scuderia, Maserati GranTurismo and Lamborghini’s Gallardo Superleggera and Reventón. In total, there are 88 entries across the nine voting categories. Voting is open until midnight on Tuesday, December 19, with the category winners announced on Wednesday 20th December.

We are reminded by Ateco Automotive – importers to Australia and NZ of all major Italian marques bar Lamborghini, that there are a number of Aussie and Kiwi contenders for the prizes.

Leading the Australian contingent is Casey Stoner, the 22 year old newly crowned World Champion from Tamworth in New South Wales. The young Alfa-backed rider stunned audiences worldwide with his outstanding skill and maturity to take the MotoGP title and get the manufacturers’ prize for Ducati. Casey’s Kiwi competition for Italian sports person of the year comes from an unlikely direction – the sea.

Yachtsman Neville Crichton – boss of Ateco – has been nominated after his fourth highly successful season at the helm of the super maxi yacht, ‘Alfa Romeo’, taking 16 race wins and setting new records across Europe during 2007 and at the same time raising Alfa Romeo’s brand awareness – at least among the boaties!

Last but not least Alfa Australia/NZ General Manager David Stone is in contention for giving the Alfa 159 its first motorsport outing and its first class win in the diesel class at the 2007 Bathurst 12 hour in the 159 2.4 JTD.

09 December 2007