Newly crowned hill climb champion, and Grimaldi Team Malta driver Joshua Anastasi led the way in Sicily to another weekend of Maltese domination last Sunday when he won the eighth round of the Sicilian Regional Hill Climb and circuit championship at the Vittoria circuit near Ragusa, also winning his class for the third time in succession in the process.
Joshua also demolished the outright track record, lowering it from 58.8 seconds set some months ago by Maria La Rosa, to a staggering 55.78 seconds for the full circuit.
Joshua, however, was not the only Maltese competitor to shine, for on a day of mixed weather conditions and mixed fortunes all nine Maltese competitors gave a display of fine driving as well as great sportsmanship. As he has done throughout this season Joshua was driving his JBR3 Kawasaki, sponsored by Grimaldi Lines, John Bull Racing, Ryans Irish Pub, Dunlop and Shell.
A close second overall, and also winning his class was another Grimaldi Team Malta driver, young Zach Zammit, winner of the Cesaro hill climb some months ago. Zach too was driving his usual Ralt Honda 2000, and he too beat the previous track record in the process, stopping the clocks at 56.72, with Italian veteran Salvatore Lombardo best of the locals in third place overall with his Formula Junior Fiat with a best lap of 58.11.
Steve Zammit Cutajar continued his improving form and only just didn’t make it an all Maltese top 3 when he lapped in 58.24 with his Tatuus Suzuki Hyabusa for fourth overall, whilst young Maria La Rosa again performed admirably with her Formula Abarth Suzuki, lowering her own lap record to 58.52 which was good enough for fifth place overall.
Giuseppe Marinelli could do no better than sixth with his powerful GISA Renault, pipping Matthew Zammit by just 100th of a second in the process. Matthew was having another troubled weekend, his father Alex working overtime to get the Van Diemen Suzuki to run properly all day, so Matthew’s time is not a realistic reflection of the Maltese driver’s performance.
Also performing excellently in his first season with the car was Patrick Gauci who hauled his Hawke Kawasaki to an excellent eighth overall, followed by Giovanni Novara’s smart Nola Suzuki and the first of the touring cars Mark Galea with his quick Subaru Impreza WRX that had the crowds on their feet throughout his performance, and the commentator awarding him with the accolade of Showman of the day. Mark also won his class in the process.
John Zammit too had an excellent day, putting his Lotus Elite into 11th spot overall and winning his very competitive class, and David Anastasi too finished a respectable 14th, winning his class again with his Mini Doda Honda, and moving to as comfortable lead in the Italian Championship with one round to go. Edward Calleja too had a troubled Sicilian baptism with gear selection problems with his Lotus Elise Honda but still managed to finish 18th overall and winning his class in the process.
The event which was excellently organised by Nanso Salerno and his small team at the Pista Sole Luna attracted a good entry of just over 100 competitors from all over Sicily, and again the Maltese drivers excelled and were exemplary, not only in their driving, but also in their behaviour and sporting spirit.
When the commentator announced Joshua Anastasi’s fantastic winning time over the public address, the grandstand erupted with along ovation, and it wasn’t just the many Maltese present who were cheering. In fact after the last car had crossed the finishing line organiser Salerno asked the nine Maltese competitors to do a lap of honour to the energetic applause of the crowds surrounding the track.
It is now three out of three, Zach Zammit winning at Cesaro, Hubert Camilleri winning at the Etna and now Joshua Anastasi repeating the dose at Vittoria. Sponsorship permitting, some Maltese drivers will be trecking across to Sicily again in a couple of weeks time to participate in the 3-kilometre hill climb at Adrano. Can we make it four out of four?