The fifth round from the ICC hill climb championship was held recently at Mtahleb, limits of Rabat.
Hubert Camilleri had a perfect comeback to the winning scene after winning the day's honours in fine style with a record time of 52.697sec, a new record for the hill climb to stave off the challenge of other competitors.
The reigning champion was impeccable all day, driving four masterly climbs to head the standings at the end of all four, in his Mclaren-Garage Chevron B43.
Fabio Baldacchino, driving his Satariano Properties OMS, achieved second overall place and in his last run topped his class with a winning time of 54.246sec, an excellent performance from the rookie driver who drove his car to exalting levels.
Third overall was Alan Curmi in his J & J Curmi JBR3 with a respectable time of 54.944sec, an outstanding performance from the young driver who seems to be throwing his anchor on the podium.
Racing started in sweltering heat and competition in all classes was as hot as the weather itself.
As is always the case at Mtahleb, there was again a good number of competitors.
Didier Bugeja, driving his Group 2 Peugeot 106 GTi, was the quickest front wheel drive car with a blistering time of 60.891sec and with a fine 18th place overall. He was followed by Etienne Grech in his Citroen Saxo VTS and Jeremy Cassar in his VW Golf Mk2 GTi.
The honours for fastest four wheel drive car this time went the way of Dr Anthony Bernard who put in a superhuman effort on his last run to put his potent Group 2 Mitsubishi Evo6 in an excellent 10th place overall with a time of 57.129sec.
The 'Flying doctor' outpaced David Galea (Subaru Impreza) by just over two tenths of a second, indeed a close and exciting battle between the two saloon cars. Teddy Aquilina was close behind in his Cosworth powered Ford Escort Mk1.
The best time for rear wheel drive cars was clocked by Mellieha’s reputable Joseph Cutajar in his mythical Ford Escort Mk2 Cosworth with a time of 59.015sec. Charles Cutajar was second fastest in his Ford Escort Mk1 and Anthony Agius was third in his Auto Cross Ford Escort.
Back at the sharp end, fourth overall was young Zach Zammit, driving the same Ralt that was used to win at Mizieb last April. Zammit suffered mechanical difficulties but nevertheless still managed to achieve a good time.
Jason Muscat (Radical Clubsport), fifth overall on Sunday, has achieved top ten standings already, and is hovering close to the top step as is sixth place overall driver Patrick Gauci (Hawke DLB6) who narrowly outpaced veteran driver Alex Zammit in his Radical Prosport by less then a tenth of a second.
Matthew Zammit, who won the Gozo event the previous month in his Van Diemen F1000, had to retire after suffering a broken drive-shaft at the start line before the third run.
Other excellent placings were those of newcomer Adam Bugeja(Edge Piranha) who placed eighth overall, Ivan Deidun (IDR), Kurt Camilleri (Mitsubishi Evo) who was fastest in group1, Neil Falzon (Subaru Impreza), Michael Fenech (Audi TT), Terence Vella (Honda CRX) and new boy Luigi Mifsud (Honda Civic).
A prize-giving celebration was held after the race whereby Rabat Mayor Sandro Craus presented trophies to the winning drivers who later enjoyed showering each other with champagne while the spectators who were present cheered the winners.
The next appointment for the hill climb championship is on Sunday, again at Mtahleb.