Mark Micallef, driving his AutotraderMalta Radical Pro Sport, proudly walked up on the number one post of the podium for the first time after a thrilling well deserved victory on Sunday.
As the race began, it became evident that the result was going to be a close one, and that it would be a battle fought to the last run. The incident-packed session saw two minor crashes, numerous mechanical failures and the shock retirement of title-challenger and reigning champion Camilleri who, yet again, suffered a broken gearbox on his last run.
With Camilleri leading the way in group 6, followed very closely by Baldacchino after the first run, the possibility of a tie emerged. By the end of the fourth and final run, Micallef steered his AutotraderMalta Radical ProSport to victory in a scorching 55.375sec; besides becoming Maltese hill climb’s first Radical to finish in the number one spot.
Zach Zammit who drove impeccably in his Urban Jungle Ralt was runner up with just under a tenth of a second away from the leader to maintain his 5th podium finish of the season.
Hubert Camilleri was third in his iconic MclarenGarage Chevron B43, claiming his fourth podium of the season and ended just under 3 tenths of a second behind Zammit.
Imtahleb has always proven to be a dramatic race up the steep, demanding hill of Malta’s best race-suited road. Micallef showed he was on top form from the beginning when his turbocharged Radical proved to be a true head turner as he stormed up the straight in an impressive manner.
Fabio Baldacchino, who won at Imtahleb last June, took an impressive fourth and Matthew Zammit fifth, ahead of veteran Radical driver Alex Zammit who performed well and claimed a respectable sixth place.
Adam Bugeja, Anthony Bernard, James Dunford and Ivan Deidun rounded out the top 10 overall times. Bernard in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo was the only saloon road car to place among the single seater cars that occupied the rest of the top ten places, claiming fastest 4-wheel drive and quickest in group 2.
John Zammit of Group 3 showed an emphatic performance as he took precedence with his turbocharged Lotus Elise as fastest rear wheel drive, ranking 11th overall.
Another excellent performance was achieved by hot hatch driver Didier Bugeja who was fastest of the front wheel drive cars in his ostentatious 1.6 litre Peugeot 106 Gti. His stupendous driving led him to place 13th overall.
The hill climb came to an end with a prize giving celebration and marked the end to this year’s Rabat Motorsport festival. Rabat mayor Sandro Craus presented the trophies and champagne bottles popped open to mark the victor’s celebration.
The championship is nearing the end and it’s all down to the last straw. This will be open for all to see next Sunday at Mizieb, the next venue that will hold the final Island Car Club hill climb of the 2012 season.