Last Sunday, the Automobile Club of Catania promoted the 44th Catania-Etna hillclimb along a 9.2 km course, and in accordance with the regulations of the Italian Automobile Sports Commission (CSAI). Unfortunately, there were no Maltese competitors in this event.

This hillclimb was just a week after Alan Curmi won a similar slalom event run along a 2.95 km course organised by the Salerno Corse, meeting the Italian Sports for All Union (UISP) regulations.

The results of Sunday’s race show that Maltese drivers could have recorded very good results, although there were more powerful cars in this event than in the previous week. Angelo Palazzo, who finished third behind Alan Curmi and Hubert Camilleri in the August event, was second overall on Sunday with the same Gisa BMW.

Four Italian drivers – Giombattista Motta, Salvatore Caruso, Giuseppe Camarda and Giuseppe Di Marco – who placed between the fifth and eighth positions the previous weekend, finished further back last Sunday, between positions 13 and 28.

It is clear that although the last event attracted a smaller number of entrants, apart from Minicars and historic cars, some of the best racing cars in Sicily were present for the CSAI event, and a few were absent in the UISP event.

It appears to me that the Automobile Clubs in Sicily and CSAI should have no problem recognising the competition licences issued by the Malta Motorsport Federation as these are approved by the FIA.

Thirty nine years ago, things were different when Maltese drivers participated in the Etna and Monte Pellegrino hillclimbs. At that time, we had RAC (British) competition licences endorsed by CSAI. I doubt that CSAI needs any endorsement of FIA-recognised licences issued by the MMF. I suggest that the MMF clarifies the policy of CSAI and, if necessary, seeks the guidance of the FIA.

It is a pity that none of our drivers had remained in Sicily to take part in the second Etna event last Sunday where they could have obtained another excellent result. It is evident that motor sport in Malta has registered exponential growth and success over the past 40 years.

The results of the different categories in last Sunday’s Etna event may be found at http://www.catania.aci.it/article.php?id_article=247