When the president of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) was invited to visit Malta, it was thought that the Malta Motorsport Federation (MMF) would bring out the “family jewels” to impress Jean Todt with the resources invested in our fastest racing drivers. When the president of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) was invited to visit Malta, it was thought that the Malta Motorsport Federation (MMF) would bring out the “family jewels” to impress Jean Todt with the resources invested in our fastest racing drivers. The MMF leadership failed to do so. The fastest racing cars that won the awards in circuit racing in Sicily in 2010 were conspicuous by their absence in front of the Hilton Hotel.

It is not known if there was a breakdown in communications between the MMF and its affiliated clubs and their respective members. The drivers of a beautiful Ferrari and an Austin Healey, which were parked in front of the hotel, drove off angrily when they were told to remove their cars. It is doubtful that Mr Todt was impressed by a Mini and an old Ford Anglia or Escort instead. If the MMF leadership wished to show our motoring heritage, it could have escorted Mr Todt to a museum. But the MMF’s jurisdiction in the FIA is on motorsports!

Cars in Groups 5 and 6 in the speed events promoted by the Island Car Club (ICC) are considered to be the “cream” of motorsports in Malta, but only two of these were displayed, and in the case of the 2010 ICC champion it was appropriate to have his racing car on display. There should have been a full fleet of such racing cars.

The MMF leadership took exception to remarks expressed by a driver who in his personal opinion thinks that the MMF leadership is more interested in static displays. Judging by the cars displayed during Mr Todt’s visit, the MMF leadership has shown that it does not even have an order of priorities; this was not the occasion for some brand name affiliated clubs to have the cars of their members on display at the expense of real racing cars.

Lunch

Mr Todt was hosted to a buffet lunch that started around 3pm although it was scheduled to start at 1.30pm, according to the tickets and other communications. It would have made more sense to invite the FIA president to lunch soon after his arrival and then show him around some facilities, including the Autocross/Motocross track at Ta’ Qali. For some reason the track at Ta’ Qali was not included in the programme, while the FIA President was shown a track used by an association that was not affiliated with the MMF at that time.

With the exception of a few faces around his table, Mr Todt was probably at a loss who the people in the room were. Instead of wasting a lot of time for people at each table to go and line up to get their starters and then their main course, it would have made more sense for the people sitting at each table to introduce themselves briefly – while being served at their table.

It is not known how many officials of the affiliated clubs were present, and if they were, the majority were not introduced to Mr Todt. The president of the Island Karting Club was certainly not introduced to the FIA president!

According to a statement made at Hal Far by the general secretary of the MMF, the drivers who were nominated for the SportsAwards were to be introduced to Mr Todt and given an award. Eventually, one of these nominees was not even informed that he was going to get an award from the FIA President, and when his name was called he was not present in the room! A total communications breakdown. In addition to the three nominees, the MMF could have presented awards to all the 2010 champions of the various motor sports disciplines. Mr Todt is not likely to visit Malta every other week.

The lunch did not start very well as the president of the MMF recognised the chairman of the Kunsill Malti ghall-iSport before he recognised the Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport! One does not have to be the chief of protocol to know whom to address first. Incidentally, this opening section is edited from the speech that is online. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lze2RjPIJMA

At one point the president of the FIA left his table to choose the main course, in the same way that everybody else was doing! Was the Hilton operating on a skeleton staff basis? Would it not have been more appropriate and better if the meals were served and everybody remained in his place, selecting the preferred food in advance, if necessary?

At the end of the lunch, Mr Todt was asked to launch the MMF website. This website – which came on stream after three years − leaves out a huge gap in the history of motorsports in Malta. Initially, it also criticised the government for its “sluggishness” and the “deteriorating condition of some of the roads used for events”. It also insulted the management skills of its member clubs. These comments were subsequently edited!

The MMF leadership has a number of interesting initiatives, but unfortunately it is implementing them in the wrong way. Mr Todt’s visit presented a golden opportunity to the MMF to show him Malta’s stock of racing cars, their drivers, and the officials of the affiliated clubs and associations. The MMF leadership could have performed a lot better.

Alfred A. Farrugia

Maryland

USA