Grimaldi Team Malta driver Alan Curmi made it two out of two for Maltese drivers when he emulated Zach Zammit’s 2008 performance to win this year’s edition of the Trofeo Citta di Cesaro, held in the beautiful Sicilian Nebrodi last weekend.
One hundred and twenty drivers applied to enter this ever popular hill climb which was again superbly organised by Nando Salerno. Unlike other events this was a true two day event, with scrutineering held on Saturday morning, the road closed for free practice during Saturday afternoon, then three glorious runs up the three kilometre hill on Sunday, followed by a superb presentation of awards in the village square by the Mayor of Cesaro and other dignatories.
Five Maltese drivers and cars made the trip on the Grimaldi ferry on Thursday, headed as always by Team manager Joe Anastasi. These consisted of three single seater racing cars for Patrick Gauci (Hawke Kawasaki), Alan Curmi (JBR-3 Kawasaki) and current ICC hill climb champion Joshua Anastasi (JBR-4 Kawasaki), and two saloons driven by Nikolai Degiorgio (Lancia Delta Integrale) and Etienne Grech (Citroen AX GTI).
After a leisurely Friday morning spent touring the Nebrodi, the afternoon was spent going over the cars. For some this was just a case of adjusting on board cameras and the like.
Others like Joshua Anastasi still had some major adjustments to make on their car. Indeed Joshua’s JBR-4 hadn’t turned a wheel since it’s firey retirement some weeks ago whilst circuit racing at Racalmuto, and was being virtually finished off in the beautiful front garden of the team’s Agriturismo on the outskirts of Cesaro, with beautiful mount Etna as a backdrop. It doesn’t get much better than that!
Having had plenty of practice, and no trouble with the cars whatsoever on Saturday, the Malta team woke with optimism on Sunday.
When racing started it was immediately clear that not only were all five Grimaldi Team cars impressive, but they were also making very competitive times. In fact at the end of the first of the two timed runs, young Alan Curmi headed the time sheets comfortably with a fantastic run, much to the delight of his car’s mechanic Simon Muscat.
He was followed by Joshua Anastasi, and this is how it remained throughout the day. Nikolai Degiorgio had the crowds cheering whenever he drove up the hill, the black Lancia going and sounding as impressive as ever, and gaining another class win, and Etienne Grech was enjoying a real ding dong with the many other competitors in his class.
Poor Patrick Gauci was the only one not having a troublefree day, his car jumping out of gear at the most inopportune of moments. This was Alan’s first overall win, and it couldn’t have come at a better place. He drove perfectly and truly deserved it.
At the presentation of awards after the event the Grimaldi Team Malta contingent was singled out for it’s sportsmanship and team spirit, and of course for the outstanding performance of their well prepared cars.
“These are the sort of compliments I like to hear” said team manager Joe Anastasi. “It’s the sort of encouragement that makes one go on, despite the many difficulties. I too am delighted with the behaviour and performance of all our boys, and very proud to be managing such an excellent Grimaldi Team Malta.”