There is no doubt that all the members of the Executive Council of the Malta Motorsport Federation (MMF) mean well, and the effort and time they devote to promote motor sports is appreciated. But such efforts are not enough. Hell is paved with good intentions.

As the national sporting authority recognised by the Federation Internationale de l‘Automolile (FIA), the MMF should concentrate on motor sports and leave mobility for the other Club in Malta that is affiliated with the FIA for that purpose.

There are basically two associations – the Assoċjazzjoni Sport Muturi (ASM) and the Malta Drag Racing Association (MDRA) – and a club – the Island Car Club (ICC) – that organise speed events in Malta, and then there are two karting clubs. The sporting authority approved by the FIA should be in the hands of these clubs and associations, and these should be the ones that form the leadership of the Malta Motorsport Federation. Other clubs may of course belong to the local Federation and they may also give their contribution, but they should not have the voting power to over-rule the clubs and associations that are responsible for speed events.

The leadership of the Federation needs to be entrusted in the hands of either people who have excellent management and leadership skills or that have experience and expertise in organising speed events, or that have both. Ideally, these should also have some experience in racing or at least in professional training in racing so that they can fully understand the needs of Malta’s racing drivers, whom they represent. The racing experience of some members of the present leadership leaves much to be desired.

This year, the posts of president, secretary general and chairman of the Federation are filled by members from the same club, which, as far as is known, does not organise speed events. This means that practically a third of the Federation’s Executive Council is made up of members from one club. If these positions had been filled by members who have a record of leading by consensus, then they would have served the needs of the Federation.

Unfortunately, the opposite has happened, and a number of controversial decisions have been taken by a majority vote by only half the membership, and in some cases the president is reported to have used his casting vote in addition to his original vote to break the tie! This is not the way that the Federation is expected to lead.

The Federation needs to be led by people that can bring clubs and personalities together and not take rash administrative decisions to suspend clubs or members! What kind of service is the Federation providing to affiliated clubs?

€200,000

It is reliably understood that the Federation could have applied for some €200,000 from the FIA for the development of the new karting track in Hal Far. To date, there are no reports that this has been done, and is a disservice to local motor sports if the MMF has not taken action on this possibility. The Federation should not expect to take over the management of the sports facilities allocated by government to affiliated clubs under the Sports Act. On the contrary, it should assist affiliated clubs to move forward.

Individual enthusiasts have contributed more to motor sports this year than the Federation, apart from the efforts of the affiliated clubs themselves. Charles Galea has brought the Mtahleb hill climb back to life with the support of the ICC and the Rabat local Council.

Tonio Darmanin has taken a group of Maltese drivers to experience the high performance of their cars on a racetrack in Sicily. Joe Anastasi has led his team to circuit racing and hill climbs in Sicily a number of times. Where was the support of the Federation in these initiatives? There were times when it dragged its feet instead of seeing promptly to the needs of Maltese drivers racing abroad. When a young driver, on his own initiative, decided to participate in a karting race in Italy and requested the loan of a Maltese flag to be flown at the event, the Federation said it was not in a position to help!

Making personal contacts with the FIA and in foreign exhibitions is useful, but substance is more important than the taking of photographs. MMF does not want to be seen acting as a club. It is not acting as a Federation either. The FIA promotes 28 championships. The Italian Automobile Sports Commission of the Italian Automobile Club promotes 16 championships and trophies. How many championships is MMF promoting in Malta? How many sponsorships has it succeeded in bring to its clubs?

It is wise to delegate authority, but the ICC should not be expected to carry all the burdens of speed events on behalf of the Federation. If that were the case, then the leaders of the ICC should be the leaders of the MMF. In MMF events, whenever they happen, all the members of the affiliated associations and clubs ought to be eligible to take part without registering with any particular club.

The statute of the Federation is internally inconsistent in many respects, but the main problem is that it does not make a provision for a Malta Automobile Sporting Commission in which the associations and clubs organising speed events are represented in accordance with their membership. Instead, representatives of clubs that do not promote speed events can neutralise the views of these associations and clubs, as things are at present.

The Federation also lacks a Karting Commission represented by the karting clubs according to the strength of their membership. If the Federation were serious it would not provide grounds for conflicts and rivalry.

The Federation needs to change its leadership style and reduce personal frictions. It needs to be of service to its member clubs and associations, and not expect them to do the dirty work while it takes the credit. As a voluntary organisation it is not expected to be perfect, but as it is, it is very far from perfect. It can certainly do better. Most importantly, it should leave no stone unturned to influence the government to develop a racing circuit with the support of foreign and local investors. That should be its primary objective.

Alfred Farrugia

MARYLAND

USA