Maltese drivers achieve high placings at the Rotax Max Challenge in Sicily

This race, the ninth round of the Sicilian Karting Regional Championship for circuit racing, attracted a total of 76 drivers spread over 9 different classes. The first round of this championship was held on January 31st at the same circuit, but in that case there were only 8 classes. The Rotax Max Challenge had not been launched yet.

The leading Italian driver in the regional championship in the Rotax Max Challenge in Sicily, Francesco Tomarchio, proved unbeatable although the Maltese drivers were breathing down his crash helmet! There were laps when different Maltese drivers were faster, both last Sunday and on July 4th at the Kartodromo Castelvetrano in Triscina.

In the qualifying practice in the early afternoon on Sunday, Adrian Cauchi’s fastest lap was only 0.227 seconds slower that Francesco’s. Adrian recorded his fastest lap of 56.998 seconds in the 8th lap to qualify second, and on the front row of the starting grid for the pre-final.

Trevor Muscat was a close third stopping the clocks at 57.287 seconds in lap 10 to claim third position on the starting grid for the pre-final. Gianluca’s best time in the timed practice, recorded in the fifth lap, was 58.287 – just one second behind Trevor - but competition was so fierce that such a time placed him in 7th position. A fraction of a second makes all the difference in circuit racing. Francesco registered the best time of 56.771 seconds in the sixth lap to claim pole position.

In the pre-final race of 12 laps, Francesco maintained his supremacy while Trevor edged in front of Adrian to claim second position. The lap times were marginally slower for practically all the drivers except Gianluca who recorded his best time of 58.108 seconds in the 10th lap to move to the sixth position for the final.

In the final and most important race of 16 laps, Francesco improved his time to record the fastest time of day at 56.683 seconds in the 12th lap. Trevor Muscat maintained his second position to finish in front of Adrian who place third. There were instances where Adrian was faster but at the end he settled for third place. Climbing the podium steps on their first attempt in this Challenge in Sicily was quite a satisfying experience. If they had front disc brakes they might have gone one step higher.

Gianluca improved his position even further to finish 5th and might have had an even better placing if he was not pushed off the track in the process. BRM Racing recognized the Maltese driver Gianluca in its Italian press release. While motor sports may at times take the form of contact sports, it is wiser to try and drive a clean race because at some time or other, one is likely to get paid back for earlier transgressions.

It is clear that our Maltese drivers have nothing less that the drivers across the channel and with better equipment and a better facility at home they will no doubt do even better. As soon as the new track at Hal Far kindly provided by the Kunsill Malti ghall-iSport (KMS) becomes operational our drivers’ standards would certainly improve further.

Adrian is grateful for the support kindly offered by KMS. Without such assistance, this result would not have happened. With additional support from other sources, Maltese drivers can compete more frequently, improve their skills and bring home more trophies. The Maltese flag may fly with pride at foreign circuits.

When one considers the achievements of Trevor Muscat, Lucas Pace, Adrian Cauchi, Jacques Mizzi and Gianluca Dingli in foreign competitions it is evident that karting could have a bright future. Every effort needs to be made to complete the new karting track at Hal Far as soon as possible so that Malta begins to host international events and attract foreign drivers.

Final results:

1. Francesco Tomarchio
2. Trevor Muscat
3. Adrian Cauchi
4. Antonio Sardo
5. Gianluca Dingli
6. Gaspare Pollicino
7. Roberto Lino
8. Paolo Cuntro'
9. Giuseppe Messina
10. Gianluigi Nicotra