The Grand Prix of Malta was launched yesterday during a press conference addressed by the Minister for Tourism, Francis Zammit Dimech, the Minister for Urban Development and Roads, Jesmond Mugliett, and the mayors of Valletta and Floriana, Paul Borg Olivier and Nigel Holland. It is being held with the full cooperation of the Maltese Embassy in France from where the idea originated.
The event – for classic cars – is being held between 22 and 28 October. The cars are to arrive in Grand Harbour on Monday 22 October and, accompanied by some others from the Old Motors Club of Malta, will enter Valletta in a special carcade.
On that day, in the afternoon, they will be on show at St George Square, in front of The Palace. The next day they will be driven to Gozo, passing through The Ferries in Sliema and St Julian’s. In Gozo, the cars will pass through Marsalforn on their way to Dwejra before moving on to Xlendi. On their way back to Valletta, the cars will pass through Mosta.
On Wednesday 24 October, there will be a rally with a stop at Vittoriosa at about 10am arriving at Marsaxlokk at about noon. On Friday there will be a Concours d’Elegance at Mdina at 2pm. On Saturday 27 October, between 2pm and 5pm, there will be free trials around Valletta. The following day, on Sunday morning, there will be the qualifying heats. The start of the Grand Prix is scheduled for 2pm. The presentation ceremony is expected around 8pm.
Two-seater racers and prestigious cars built between 1910 and 1975 as well as single seater cars built between 1930 and 1965 will be taking part.
Motorsport Festival at Ta’ Qali to launch the new federation
Malta’s motoring clubs have a busy weekend this coming Saturday and Sunday when they all band together at Ta’ Qali for a Festival of Motorsport like we have never seen in Malta before. The occasion will be the launch of the new Malta Motorsport Federation.
The show kicks off on Saturday morning with go kart, motorcycle, scooter, minimoto and RC car races organised by the IKC, MMCC, MRCM and IRMCC respectively. These will be taking place in the MFA car park alongside the football stadium throughout the day.
Alongside the runway there will be static displays by a number of other clubs including the American Auto Club Malta, the Classic Ford Club, AWDC, Source R and others, whilst the ASM will be having practice sessions for motocross bikes, autocross cars and bangers in their own off road track within Ta Qali.
Sunday will be another busy day with involvement again by all the clubs, however apart from the static displays the main attractions will be the first round of the ASM championships and the 7th round of the ICC Hill Climb and Sprint Championship which will take place along a similar circuit to that used in the past in that area.
The event will come to a climax with a grand presentation of awards in the evening.
All exhibitors in the static displays are asked to be settled into their allotted areas by no later than 8am on Sunday when all roads leading to the circuit area will be closed to all traffic.
Traffic to the MFCC tent is to approach via the National Stadium side and into the MFCC car park. Spectators are asked to co-operate with officials and marshals in order to ensure the safety and efficient running of the event.
“We will be watched all day by dignitaries and “persons that matter’, so it is important that we put on a good, safe show. The whole operation has taken a lot of organising and there are numerous people to thank. It’s nice to see such co-operation from the authorities, something hitherto lacking in local motorsport circles. It looks like the authorities are finally realising that motorsport has a very important place in the island’s economy and leisure. I consider this weekend to be the turning point of motorsport in Malta, and I am honoured to have had a say in promoting it,” said chairman Joe Anastasi.