Malta keeps getting plenty of publicity in Sicily thanks to the endeavours of the many Maltese motorsport enthusiasts, who out of sheer frustration have no alternative but to travel to Sicily for their motorsport.
David Anastasi helped put Malta firmly on the international map last weekend when his Mini Doda, adorned with “Visitate Malta” stickers attracted even more attention than the race winner Leogrande himself. David was fulfilling a lifelong dream when he competed in the Coppa Monte Erice, which is one of only two FIA championship hill climbs held annually in Sicily.
On the same weekend at the Autodromo Valle dei Templi at Racalmuto, some twenty Maltese drivers faced a similar number of Italians in a direct clash on the 2.6 kilometre track in the picturesque Valley of the Temples during the third round of this year’s Time Attack championship.
Josef Calleja, driving his impeccably prepared GFI Subaru Impresa was again the fastest of the colourful and popular Maltese contingent, but other drivers too either improved their times or won their respective classes, and more importantly, all thoroughly enjoyed their two days thrashing around the safe and technical Racalmuto circuit.
Adrian Muscat Azzopardi gave his new Lotus Elise a perfect baptism of fire, winning his class in the process. Neil Falzon had a busy weekend setting up his Subaru Impresa, and finished up third in the competitive “Racing” class.
Nikolai Degiorgio (Lancia Delta Integrale), and Steve Calleja (Mazda RX7) also took advantage of the hours of tracktime available to improve their cars. Roderick Borg went quietly along his business and improved his lap times steadily to finish off second in the “Pro” class with his Subaru Impresa, and Edward Calleja was glad to be back at Racalmuto with his Lotus Elise, and to improve on his previous best lap time too.
More colour was given to the Racalmuto weekend by the impressive Toyota Supra of George Zarb, and the Honda S2000s of Darren Brownrigg and Nicky Xerxen, with added variety coming from the Porsches of Keith Cardona and Jackson Agius, the Ferrari of Robert Zammit, the Mitsubishi EVOs of Joe Montebello and Johann Meli, the BMWs of Clint Busuttil and Alan Zerafa, and the interesting Alfa Romeo engine Skoda of Ivan Vella.
This weekend Racalmuto will again be ringing to the sounds of Maltese racing cars.
Adam Bugeja has just finished a complete rebuild of his potent little OMS Kawasaki after lessons learnt from his first visit to Racalmuto last season, and will be looking to challenge for class honours in the 1300 Formula class.
Sunday’s event will be the second in this year’s popular Campionato Siciliano di Velocita, ably promoted by AICS, where Maltese drivers have performed regularly each year since 2009. This was only possible thanks to Virtu Ferries, who have been most helpful towards the Maltese motorsport fraternity.