The Magnificent Six – Abarth’s '60s World Championships
Within the FIA’s World Sportscar Championship, Abarth reigned supreme for six consecutive seasons in the early '60s. During the period, categories and classes were subject to several revisions. For example, in 1962, Abarth’s campaign was for the WSC’s subsidiary competition, ‘The International Championship for GT Manufacturers,’ and the marque’s winning points total was accrued within the GT 1000 cc class. The following year, Abarth’s effort was concentrated on the 1300 cc GT class. In 1966 the title, ‘International Sports Car Championship’ was introduced. Under this, Abarth ran primarily in the ‘Sports’ category, and, within this, Division I (1300 cc). In response to this evolving competition framework, Abarth varied its track models focus, from the Fiat Abarth 1000 Bialbero GT, through the Abarth Simca 1300 GT, to the Abarth 1300 OT. Throughout the period, several other related Abarth models competed in the WSC events, including 700 cc and Monomille versions of the Fiat-en