Lino Brincat dominates ICC Hill Climb

Veteran hill climb driver Lino Brincat, driving his Dallara Alfa Romeo, won last Sunday's opening round of the ICC Hill Climb and Sprint Championship, at Miżieb. Now nearing pensionable age, Brincat was in a class of his own and dominated the day's proceedings from the first run.

The Miżieb event was the first round of the club's championship, and as usual attracted a good and varied entry, which included 10 single-seater racing cars, and a good number of Group 5, 2 and 1 cars. Proceedings started at 9 a.m. when clerk of the course Alex Zammit signalled the start of the first car, Frank Tonna's interesting Group 5 Mini 1400.

By 11 a.m. both practice runs had been completed and the 50 cars lined up for their first timed run. It was immediately clear that Brincat had carried forward the form he had shown in the closing round of the 2007 championship and was heading the time sheets just as he pleased. Behind him, the usual battle raged between multiple champion Hubert Camilleri (Chevron Cosworth 2000), cousins Matthew and Zach Zammit and Joshua Anastasi, Steve Zammit Cutajar, Paul Deguara and other aspirants for an outright win, but at the end of the first timed run it was Brincat by over a second and a half from Camilleri, with Matthew Zammit a very close third.

Every driver improved his time on the final run. Brincat again improved slightly, as did Camilleri, while Matthew Zammit made a slight mistake at the last hairpin and Anastasi was rewarded for three days' hard work when he took another second off his previous time to claim second place overall, with Camilleri a very close third.

Mark Galea was quickest of the touring cars, mixing it with the single-seaters with his Subaru Impresa WRX. Other performances worth mentioning were those of David Libreri, Duncan Barbaro Sant, David Anastasi, Aldo Laferla, and newcomer Terrence Vella.

The next championship round will be held shortly after Easter at Ġnejna.