Maltese motorsport enthusiasts have definitely got the bug. Nine drivers, all members of the Island Car Club, were heading for Sicily yesterday to participate in Sunday’s circuit race meeting organised by Nando Salerno’s U.I.S.P. at the Kartodrome Sole Luna in Vittoria.

This event will be attracting the cream of Sicilian motorsport, not only because a number of Sicilian racers live around the Ragusa, Comiso, Vittoria area, but also because the circuit at Vittoria is used continually by many for testing purposes, and they all know it like the back of their hand.

Fortunately for the Maltese drivers the circuit will be available for testing tomorrow so expect to see plenty of action from the Malta team as they get to grips with the conditions in preparation for the real thing on Sunday.

Grimaldi Team Malta manager Joe Anastasi is once again responsible for organising the Malta side of things. “This event was originally planned for Taormina, but when the road recently caved in following storms, organiser Nando Salerno had to make a quick change of location. Actually it’s just as well because Vittoria will be much more fun, and circuit racing will be a completely new ball game for our boys. Let’s see if we can make it three in a row” said Joe Anastasi following the Malta team’s success at Cesaro in August and Etna in September.

The six Grimaldi drivers, namely Zach, Matthew and John Zammit, Steve Zammit Cutajar, and David and Joshua Anastasi left on the Grimaldi ferry yesterday afternoon, while Mark Galea, Patrick Gauci and Edward Calleja will be joining the team at Vittoria this morning. For Patrick and Edward this will be their first such foray in Sicily.

The nine Maltese drivers will be competing in various different classes with Cesaro winner Zach, Matthew, Steve, new hill climb Champion Josh and Patrick racing their single seater racing cars in the “Formula” class, and David, John, Edward and Mark all competing in the various “Supersalite” classes.

“As Vittoria is only about 45 minutes from Pozzallo, I expect we’ll have plenty of Maltese support on Sunday” said Joe Anastasi as he again reminded everyone to bring plenty of Maltese flags.