The performance division then entered the Le Mans 24 Hours for the first time in 1986, built its first bespoke racing machine in 1988, and developed its first road car — the Skyline GT - R «R32» — for release in 1989.
A skilled engineer and former European championship - winning motorbike sidecar racer, Abarth offered tuning kits before moving on to modified production cars and eventually his own, bespoke racing machines.