The third round of the Campionato Siciliano Velocita in Circuito takes place at the Autodromo Valle dei Templi at Racalmuto near Agrigento this weekend, and the Grimaldi Team Malta drivers will be there again flying the Maltese flag, as they have done so successfully in the two previous rounds.
Sunday’s third round is the penultimate in this excellent four round championship promoted by Nando Salerno on behalf of Salerno Corse / UISP. This championship marks the revival of circuit racing in Sicily, following the closing of the famous Pergusa circuit some years ago, and it is through the efforts of one man alone, Nando Salerno, that this has come about.
The first round in March attracted some 80 entries, whilst the second last month attracted over 100 with some very interesting machinery. This Sunday’s round is reputed to have attracted over 120 drivers from all over Sicily and mainland Italy. Grimaldi Team Malta will also have a considerable presence this time with five cars entered, of which two are new to the scene.
Flag bearer this time has got to be Steve Zammit Cutajar with his Tatuus Hyabusa 1300 single seater racing car. Steve was second in class to Joshua Anastasi in round one, then won the class last month, his first single seater win, and it couldn’t have come at a better time and place.
Joshua Anastasi goes this time as Steve’s helper/ mechanic, not having received his new engine in time following the problems experienced during the June round. “Three weeks is a bit too short a gap between races. I shall be biting my fingernails wishing I was out there on the track on Saturday and Sunday” said a somewhat disappointed Joshua.
Zach Zammit too did not manage to resolve the problems on his Ralt Honda car in time but he will be driving Vince Vella’s interesting Westfield Megabusa on Sunday, whilst Alan Curmi returns for the third time with his ever improving JBR-3 Kawasaki, hoping to move up another place on the podium after his third place in March, and second last month.
And Matthew Zammit is a welcome addition to the team this year, having missed the first two rounds following problems with the car last season. Matthew drives his very much improved Van Diemen, now with a more powerful Suzuki K6 engine. “I can’t wait to get back on the track” he said, having been away from the scene for a number of months. I’m sure he has lost none of his edge.
Last but not least is newcomer Christian Schranz with his new and very exciting Reynard VW Judd. This will be Chris’ baptism of fire with the new car but it will give him the opportunity to cover more learning miles in 2 days than he can ever hope to do in a whole season’s racing in Malta.
“There’s nothing like the real thing for gaining experience” said Grimaldi Team Malta manager Joe Anastasi. “Circuit racing is a totally different ball game from what these boys have been used to, but they have shown how good they all are with results that are the envy of everybody. I am proud of them all. We certainly couldn’t have done it without the help of our sponsors Grimaldi”.
The team leaves Malta this afternoon on the Grimaldi ferry to Catania, and returns on Sunday night.