17-year-old Nicky Gauci gained another podium finish at the Pista del Sole in Melilli in Sicily on Sunday, when he finished second in the final race of the 125 ROTAX MAX category of the Italian Karting Regional Championship.

Nicky started the day’s racing well when among 7 drivers – 4 Italian and 3 Maltese – he succeeded to register the third best time of 45.768 seconds in the 6th lap in the qualifying session.

Neville Zammit and Jake Agius – the other two Maltese drivers, recorded the 6th and 7th times and places, respectively.

The Pista del Sole 1190-metre karting track has become quite a challenge since its resurfacing due to increased grip. This has resulted in a more exhaustive race that requires greater physical fitness on the part of the drivers. It also made the setting up of the kart a more difficult task and took the whole of the Saturday before the race!

Racing his number 22 kart, Nicky managed to move into 2nd place by the fourth lap of the 15-lap pre-final race chasing Francesco Tomarchio, and registering a best lap of 45.957 seconds in the 6th lap. Nicky maintained the second position till the finish.

Jake Agius placed 4th, while Neville Zammit finished in 6th position after getting 10-second penalty points for a non-conforming nose on his kart!

It was a pity that the 15-lap final race had to start again a number of times because Nicky had jumped into the lead in the first two attempts. Eventually, Nicky claimed the 2nd position from the very beginning of the valid start behind Francesco, and succeeded to defend his place until the finish, chased by Davide Vincenzo Scuto.

Nicky recorded a best lap of 46.209 seconds in the 5th lap of the final race.

In the early part of the final race Jake Agius was in third place, but eventually had to be content with the 7th place as a result of a 10-second penalty due to a non-conforming nose on his kart!

Neville Zammit finished in a good 4th place.

The next round of the championship will be held on 15th July at the Circuito Internazionale di Triscina, in Castelvetrano near Trapani in Sicily.