The beautiful setting of the Triscina International Karting Circuit at Castelvetrano, hosted the second round of the Sicilian Rotax Regional Championship in which 16 year old Gianluca Dingli was a front runner during the weekend.

More than 50 drivers registered to compete in various categories, who entertained the hundreds of spectators by showing off their driving talents and top performance karts, tuned to perfection by various teams’ mechanics.

Dingli, the first Maltese driver to be appointed with an Italian karting company, BRM International, was set to face nine Sicilian semi-professionals drivers in his class during the weekend.

Gianluca started Saturday’s practice runs, registering the fastest lap times - lap after lap. Dingli’s competitive talent was perfectly in tune with his BRM Kart prepared by Mario Lena, his team manager. By the end of these practice runs, all record lap times were tagged by Dingli. This augured well for Dingli who was aiming to keep up the pace he had set two weeks earlier, when he won the first round of this championship.

In the pole position on Sunday morning, Dingli registered the second best time after the Sicilians made it very difficult for him to interpret the laps as he wished.

In the pre-final, the Maltese youngster managed to place second. 

Gianluca had to control his nerves and give the best in the final race, as he could not undermine Carlo Speciale who was recording some very respectable lap times.

The pressure by the Sicilians was evident as Dingli lost four places by the first corner.  But with great determination he was back searching for success.

He started gaining momentum and overtook his contenders’ one by one. By the fifth lap, he was the leader of the race.  Back markers tried to slow Dingli and pressure him to do a mistake, but the race director, Vito Lombardo, with his experience and discipline, showed the warning flags to these drivers. 

Gianluca was elated when the race director waved the chequered flag and declared him winner of this round followed closely by Carlo Speciale and third placed Saviour Battle.

After the race, Gianluca Dingli’s BRM Kart was declared in conformity with Rotax Technical Rules and Regulations.

Mario Lena praised the young Maltese driver and said Dingli is poised to excel in future seasons.

Dingli will be in Pista Sole Luna in Vittoria next month for the third round of the Sicilian Rotax Regional championship which is a very difficult and technical track. 

Dingli thanked his main sponsor, Virtu Ferries, who are making it possible for him to travel for these races, his employer Hetronic Malta (a division of Methode Electronics Limited), Badger Karting, Hubert Camilleri of Chevron Auto Dealer, Malta Motorsport Federation, Kunsill Malti ghall- iSport, Rabat Local Council, Zoqdi Racing Team and  Silcolene Oils.