Italian driver Marco Cavigioli, the current leader of the IRC 2WD Cup, will have a new Fiat Grande Punto diesel for the Ypres Rally and the rest of the season.

The new car is designed to the latest R3D FIA regulations, which are similar to the R3 rules for petrol cars (such as the Honda Civic Type R R3) but specifically designed for diesel machinery.

With the new diesel Punto, Cavigioli will be aiming to maintain Fiat's lead of the IRC 2WD Cup – but there is sure to be strong opposition...

Bolstering Fiat's assault on the category in Ypres will be Alessio Pisi, who won last year's Trofeo Diesel in Italy at the wheel of a Fiat Grande Punto Multijet.

He will use the same car as he used to win the trophy, which is slightly less powerful than the full R3D-specification Punto used by Cavigioli.