Seventy five cars have registered for the Gozo Grand Sprint, ranging from autocross to single seaters, from minis to Rolls Royce, from 1200cc to 6000cc, from 150bhp to 500bhp. Participants range, from Malta, Gozo, Sicily and Scotland.

Former rally champion Ari Vatanen, who will be the special guest for the event, had to arrive last night from Marseille and this morning he will be travelling from Malta to Gozo to give the start of the Gozo Grand Sprint at noon.

The Malta Motorsport Federation has prepared a surprise to Ari Vatanen as it has managed to get a Subaru WRX version and asked Vatanen to bring with him his racing gear to drive the Gozo Grand Sprint! The first ever that a Rally Legend will be opening an event in Malta or better still in Gozo.

The Gozo Grand Sprint programme is as follows :

Today

08:00 - 09:30 Paddock opens; Administrative checking and scrutineering (by waiver of the Clerk of the Course)

10:00 Press Conference followed by Meet the Drivers walk by VIPs and Press

11:30 1st Drivers’ Briefing

12:00 Gozo Grand Sprint Starts. 1st Timed Free practice Sprint starts

14:30 2nd Timed Free practice Sprint starts

17:00 Finish

20:00 Gala Dinner – Calypso Hotel

Tomorrow

07:00 - 08:00 Paddock opens; Administrative checking and scrutineering (by waiver of the Clerk of the Course)

08:30 3rd Drivers’ Briefing

09:00 1st Timed Sprint begins

10:30 2nd Timed Sprint begins

12:00 – 12:30 Break

12:30  3rd Timed Sprint begins

14:00 4th Timed Sprint begins

16:30 Podium – Paddock Area - Prize-giving

17:00 Event Finishes

The MMF team is doing the best to present the best possible safe event which would turn this into a big attraction!

The federation thanked all entities supporting this event, all residents within the Gozo Grand Sprint area.