The Hal Far race circuit will be able to host four or five motorsports events annually, documents filed with the Environment and Resources Authority show.

A Project Description Statement (PDS) was filed with the ERA detailing the circuit proposal. The project is being proposed by the Malta Motorsports Federation and the document was authored by ADI consultants.

The PDS describes a proposal to develop a motor racing track in Ħal Far, which, together with the existing karting track and the drag racing facility, will create a national multi-purpose motorsports hub. “The complex will be able to host a range of national and international motor sports events along with other sports, business, and recreational activities for the local motor sport and racing community, as well as for tourists and international visitors.”

“According to the applicant, the circuit will be able to host 4/5 motorsports events annually and will be able to be used for: National, regional and international championships for cars and bikes (Bike racing will be limited to national and regional events); Drifting events; Test and training for competitors and motor sports enthusiasts; Testing of cars and components and launch of new vehicles; Events that will be open to the public for “come and try” in your own car or in track day cars available for hire; As a road safety facility (e.g. can be used by Transport Malta, driving schools, the police, emergency services, etc for driver training); Virtual racing events (simulator racing on a virtual layout of the racing circuit); Other sporting activities, including cycling and running, and including events for persons with special needs,” the document reads.

It will also be a new destination for event tourism, including small conferences, seminars, and exhibitions, the documents read.

The document states that the racetrack will be able to be used by a variety of different vehicles. These will include tuned sedans, GT Cars, Formula cars (i.e., Formula 3), prototypes, classic cars, cars with combustion engines, and test cars. “Motorbikes will also be able to use the racetrack, but only for limited and regulated activities since the safety measures that are required for motorbike events are more onerous than those for motorcar events and will require a larger land area, which is not available.”

A particular concern noted in the documents is over the noise. “The main impact from the operation of the racetrack is expected to be noise emissions from the racing cars, especially for the non-electric vehicles and, in particular, the combustion engines. The proximity of some of the sensitive receptors surrounding the site, especially the residential Ħal Far Tent Village, which abuts the Scheme site on the northwest, and the Ħal Far Day Centre, which abuts the Scheme site on the east, could be a cause for concern and the possibility of installing noise barriers in strategic locations should be actively explored, together with the strict monitoring of noise emissions from individual vehicles, in line with the racetrack’s noise limit policy.”

However, the PDS also makes another suggestion. “The Government of Malta (outside the Scheme parameters) may also consider the relocation of the various Refugee Centres (especially those abutting the Scheme site) to another location, where such impacts would be eliminated.”

The Malta Motorsports Federation intends to seek to obtain FIA homologation for the racetrack. “The homologation process will involve the submission of detailed designs and dossiers to the FIA, which will review the documentation and inspect the racetrack. The FIA might suggest changes to the design. Homologation will only take place once the track is completed and inspected by the FIA. It is usually valid for a maximum of 3 years, with renewal possible after further track inspections or as stipulated by the FIA.”

The PDS explains that the maximum track length will be 1,938 meters, which may be optimised to 2,000m during the detailed design and engineering phase. The Scheme will include the racetrack itself, which will have 12 turns (6 right-hand and 6 left-hand turns) and a start-finish straight with a length of 472 m, as well as a 4,885 sqm of paddock, grandstands, and access roads.

“The overall multi-purpose motorsports hub, of which the motor racetrack will form part, will also incorporate the kart racing track and the drag racing facility with their respective paddocks. The kart track will be extended as part of the project and the current 6,245 sqm karting paddock would be able to be extended temporarily during events into an adjacent 4,200 sqm area. The dragster paddock, which occupies an area of 10,370 sqm will be retained, as will the drag racing building, although this may be modified slightly or moved depending on certain homologation requirements by the FIA/ International Drag Racing Authority,” the PDS states. “The existing cafeteria and the grandstands will be moved to the other side of the drag strip.”

A number of track variants will also be included according to the documents, and the racetrack can be modified to host different events, depending on the length of track required, layout, and speed.

“Safety measures (such as run-off areas, shoulder areas, gravel traps, barriers, etc) will also vary depending on the type of activity. The racetrack proposed in the Scheme will be able to host international events on the full circuit, as well as smaller events on part of the track (1,274 m lap length), and it will also be able to be used for drifting activities. Two drift track variants will be possible: a 447 m and a 726 m track length.”

In terms of buildings, the main ancillary building will be the paddock supporting the racetrack. “This will have an overall area of 4,885sqm and will include the pit building and pit garages, which will have an approximate Gross Floor Area of 2,300 sqm (subject to detailed design). The pit building will be the highest building on site at 4 storeys or 15 m above road level.”

In terms of parking, the document reads that all paddocks, and occasionally parts of the racetracks, will be used for parking during events. “For example, if there is a large event on the new racetrack, the karting track and drag racing strip will be closed and used for additional parking, if required. The same model will apply if there is a major event on the karting track or on the drag racing strip. Parking on public roads is not envisaged at the moment but there could be arrangements for park and ride facilities for spectators within the Hal Far industrial estate, in collaboration with Transport Malta and INDIS during national / international racing events.”

However, the project will impact access to the Hal Far industrial estate as it would eliminate the current northern access. 

“The loss of a major entry/exit point for the Ħal Far industrial estate is of major concern and the possibility of substituting this with an alternative access point should be actively considered by the authorities so as not to impact traffic movements within and around the estate.”

The ERA determined that an Environment Impact Assessment is not required.