Motor-Racing: Three Maltese Drivers racing in Sicily again this weekend

Malta Independent Saturday, 8 November 2008, 00:00 Last update: about 15 years ago

Three drivers from the Island Car Club will be in Sicily this weekend, competing at the three kilometre hill climb at Adrano, south of the Etna. The Adrano hill climb is organised by Nando Salerno, on behalf of UISP and CONI and has attracted an entry of 180 cars.

The three Grimaldi Team Malta drivers are 2008 ICC Hill Climb and Sprint Champion Joshua Anastasi, driving his home built and championship winning JBR3 powered by a Kawasaki ZZR14 engine, veteran hill climber, and now grand dad David Anastasi with his crowd pulling Mini Doda powered by a Honda Blackbird 1200 engine, and Edward Calleja driving his newly built Lotus Elan powered by a Honda 1800 engine.

While Joshua and David are on their fourth visit to Sicily in as many months, this is Edward’s second Sicilian event, following the recent Vittoria event two weeks ago in which he won his class.

David Anastasi, racing in the Supersalite class up to 1200 will as usual be in one of the most competitive classes with a reputed 15 entries this time, and thanks to this and also thanks to the fact that he has so far always managed to beat them all and win his class, he now heads the Sicilian Regional Hill Climb Championship with just this last round at Adrano to go, this Sunday.

Joshua Anastasi too heads his class and is also well placed for an overall award. Joshua was the overall winner at Vittoria, where he demolished the circuit record.

He was also second to Zach Zammit at Cesaro, so a good overall placing at Adrano could see him battling at the very top of the overall standings, since no single driver has yet had two overall wins in the eight rounds held to date. This is as competitive as this championship has been all season.

By Sunday evening Maltese drivers will have raced in four rounds of the Sicilian Hill Climb Championship this year. Grimaldi Team Malta driver Zach Zammit starting things on the right foot when he won at Cesaro. Multiple Malta champion Hubert Camilleri followed this up with a fine win at the Etna, and Joshua Anastasi made it three out of three for Malta at Vittoria two weekends ago. In his present form he could well make it four.

The team is managed by veteran Joe Anastasi.