Four class wins in one weekend for Grimaldi Team

he team arrived at Racalmuto on Friday morning and soon settled down to some track testing. Johann Spiteri and Matthew Zammit were both entered in the 1000cc Formula class, a class which is always very competitive. Alex Zammit and Jason Muscat were in the Sports Prototype class up to 1300cc with their Kawasaki powered Radicals. John Zammit returned to Racalmuto with his Lotus Elise, Alan Curmi was present again with his Suzuki powered Radical, whilst the remaining 3 Grimaldi Team drivers, namely Jamie Sammut, Zach Zammit and Joshua Anastasi were all in 2 litre Formula cars.

Saturday morning practice showed the first indications of pace with most Grimaldi Team drivers well on race pace, but Zach and John Zammit encountered terminal mechanical problems and were reduced to spectating for the rest of the weekend.

Johann Spiteri and Matthew Zammit were both in a class of their own in official qualifying for race 5, claiming first and second places on the grid respectively. Fastest Grimaldi Team driver at the end of qualifying was Joshua Anastasi who was finally getting some reliable laps with his JBR-4 Kawasaki. Thus the grid for race 6 saw Joshua in third place on the grid, followed by Alan and Jamie. Jason and Alex were also fastest in their class.

The Racalmuto circuit was full to capacity with spectators on Sunday, racing starting right on time at 9.30am. As the grid formed for race 5 Johann Spiteri had to withdraw his Jedi Yamaha with engine problems. Matthew Zammit made an excellent start and led the 6 lap race from start to finish. Race 6 was a Mario Pappalardo benifit but Joshua Anastasi put up a good race to finish second, less than a second in arrears, wth Alan Curmi and Jamie Sammut third and fourth respectively.

The afternoon races were all of 10 lap duration. Again race 5 was a Matthew Zammit benifit, thus making it 3 races in Sicily in a row for Zammit. Joshua and Alan were docked a grid position for a "jump start" in race one, so the grid saw Jamie Sammut's Reynard Cosworth start the race from the front row alongside Pappalardo. At the lights Alan jumped the start again, incurring a 10 second penalty in the process. The race was again won by Pappalardo with Joshua inheriting second place following Alan's jump start penalty. Alan was placed third with Jamie fourth. Jason Muscat drove a good race to another class win whilst Alex Zammit retired with suspension problems late in the last race.

All in all it was a good day for Grimaldi Team Malta, made even better with the tremendous support offered by the boys from Tonio Darmanin's Paq Paq track day who arrived in Racalmuto just in time to watch the afternoon races.

Our thanks again to Grimaldi Lines for their continued support, and to the organisers and promoters of the meeting at Racalmuto.