The 2011 Malta Karting Champion, Adrian Cauchi, has succeeded to register the fastest lap of 59.058 seconds in his category in the final race of the first round of the Leotta Trophy at the Pista del Sole in Melilli last Sunday.
Clayton Mizzi won the final race of 15 laps ahead of Adrian in 13 minutes 59.121 seconds, recording his best time in the 6th lap – the same as Adrian – in 59.096 seconds. This shows the keen competition between the two Maltese drivers in Sicily in impossible weather conditions.
Ironically, the circuit in Melilli with the name associated with the sun was totally drenched with rain, so much so that the six Italian drivers who were supposed to take part in the same category as Adrian and Clayton, withdrew from the competition.
This was the second time that Adrian was racing his Virtu Ferries Velox in Sicily this year, and the second time he provided team director Vincenzo Toscano with another podium finish. A year ago he raced with a different kart in fine weather in Mellili and set a fastest lap of 47.316 seconds.
This year it was impossible to try and approach such times in such difficult conditions. Race engineer Aldo Vella had a difficult task trying to anticipate weather conditions to set the kart and engine. Adrian regrets that he did not use a new set of wet tyres in the qualifying session and the final race. If he had done so, he might have improved his times marginally better and possibly challenged Clayton for first place.
It is understood that Clayton receives some technical support from the renowned Leotta Racing team, and the Maltese driver makes optimum use of such assistance. Clayton is another talented Maltese driver. It is heartening to read in the Italian media about the professional way of racing of the 2 Maltese drivers in prohibitive conditions caused by the rain.
It is a pity that the other Italian drivers in this category did not take part because in their absence it was not possible to gauge the progress being made by Maltese drivers.
It also meant that the Maltese drivers earned half points because they were too few in their class. Unlike the Sicilian regional championship, the Leotta Trophy does not distinguish between drivers under 30 and over 30 years of age, so Adrian had to be content with the second place on the podium.
Having taken the trouble and the expense to cross to Sicily, the Maltese drivers were determined to race whatever the conditions, and the spectators present appreciated their sportsmanship. Adrian and Scuderia Racing Kart Malta are grateful for the assistance received from various sponsors including Virtu Ferries and Radisson Blu Resort St. Julian’s.
Adrian and Clayton look forward to the time when the new karting track will be completed as a result of the new Budget measure. It is unfortunate that these karting drivers cannot continue to race and practice at the temporary karting track at Hal Far until the new one is completed following the action taken by Malta Industrial Parks.