Hat-trick winner Micallef breaks Mtahleb record

After four exciting runs it was 28-year-old Mark Micallef, driving his AutoTraderMalta-MBL Radical ProSport that smashed the existing hill record to win this fourth round of the 2013 Grimaldi Lines Hill climb championship in fine style moreover making this win a hat trick.

At the end of the excellently run event, Micallef won from second placed reigning champion Zach Zammit driving his Urban Jungle Ralt by just under half a second, with third placed Jonathon Tonna driving his Fat Harry’s Tattus claiming his first podium finish, albeit racing for the first time with his group 6 car at this iconic hill.

Micallef’s record time of 52.162sec was set on his fourth run and was half a second below the previous hill record established by multi time champion Hubert Camilleri back in 2012. Camilleri was definitely disappointed having to retire after suffering a broken transmission.
James Dunford was fourth overall with his Simon’s Garage Radical PR6, Jason Muscat with his B4 Radical Club Sport in fifth place and Adam Bugeja rounded off the top half dozen with his Jekran OMS.

Alex Zammit won best performance in the veteran cathegory, achieving an excellent time of 55.557sec in his Radical Pro Sport, ranking 7th overall. Aldo Laferla was the best veteran in the saloon car section with his Mitsubishi Evo 6.

John Zammit’s indecently quick Lotus Elise was fastestrear wheel drive car, narrowly beating Noel Galea’s Ford Escort Mk2.

Steve Buttigieg won best 4-wheel drive with his Cosworth powered Ford Escort Mk1 Turbo closely followed by Chris Aquilina in his Subaru Impreza.

Didier Bugeja preceded the front wheelers in his rambunctious Peugeot 106 GTI ahead of Etienne Grech’s raucous Citroen Saxo VTS.

The next round of the ICC championship will be held at Xaghra, Gozo on Saturday 25th from 14.00hrs to 18.00hrsand Sunday 26th May from 09.00hrs to 15.00hrs.