Twenty four year old Grimaldi Team Malta driver Alan Curmi won the famous Etna Hill Climb organized by Salerno Corse / UISP last Sunday, beating the numerous more fancied runners in the process. The event attracted a record 250 starters.

Three Maltese drivers from Grimaldi Team Malta participated in this event, all three racing in class F4 for Formula cars under 1400cc. Alan Curmi, fresh from his first overall win at Cesaro three weeks ago was present with his yellow JBR-3 Kawasaki, having done little more than clean it up and pump the tyres since Cesaro.

Patrick Gauci also used his green Hawke Kawasaki for the Etna event. The car has recently undergone some modifications in the electronics department, and Patrick was well pleased with these modifications. ICC Hill Climb Champion Joshua Anastasi was the third team member present at Etna, racing his orange JBR-4 Kawasaki.

The hill was closed for free practice most of Saturday afternoon and the Malta boys all managed at least 4 runs up the hill, making delicate adjustments to suspension between runs, in preparation for Sunday's two timed runs. Saturday's practice also proved very useful to learn the 3 kilometre hill, as well as adapting to the immense grip of the Etna tarmac. It was immediately clear by Saturday evening that the Grimaldi boys were among the quickest present, auguring well for Sunday.

Racing on Sunday started at 9am with the multitude of cars from the lower groups climbing first, leaving the "noise" to the end. Josh Anastasi was the first of the three to come under starters orders but no sooner had he left the start on his first of Sunday's two important runs, a half shaft snapped under the immense grip provided by the Dunlop tyres and the Etna tarmac and he was left stranded to spectate for the rest of the day. "It was a bitter disappointment" said the champion. "The car felt really good and we knew we would be very competitive here. These things happen". A philosophical approach indeed, considering the disappointment.

Alan Curmi was next off the line and he blasted up the hill to a record time, to record the fastest time of the run by a good two seconds. Now all he needed to do was conserve that advantage during the second run, something he did so well at Cesaro. Patrick Gauci was the last of the three Grimaldi Team Malta drivers to take the start, and in Patrick's case too it was a good clean and measured run to slot him into the top ten overall, a big improvement over Cesaro.

Thanks to the faultless organization all 250 cars had performed their first run by 11.30 and by 12.30 all was set for the second and final run. With Josh spectating, it was Alan that came under starters orders first.

This was going to be a difficult run. He needed to conserve his lead but not be overcautious. He performed this task admirably to produce a total time which was fastest by just under half a second. "I was a bit worried at the finish" he said ", because I thought I had taken it a bit too easy, but luckily it was just right".

Patrick also produced a measured second run to retain his place in the coveted top 10, with 9th overall. "I was disappointed with my result at Cesaro but this time everything was really working well and I was able to put more into driving" said a very happy Patrick.

As always, the Grimaldi team was managed by Joe Anastasi. "Josh's retirement was a real blow because we could easily have ended up in the two top spots, but luckily Patrick and Alan more than made up for the disappointment with excellent performances. Well done boys".