Xagħra hill climb on Sunday

The Island Car Club will be promoting the fifth round of this year's Hill Climb and Sprint Championship at Xagħra on Sunday.

This is the second hill climb being held at the same location in Gozo this year, a direct consequence of the complete lack of suitable roads for this sort of event on our islands.

Be that as it may, local racers are a very versatile lot and have adapted both their driving style and cars very well to the conditions, something which is being regularly reflected when these same Maltese drivers race so successfully in Sicily.

Zach Zammit, driving his Honda-powered Ralt, was the winner of the last edition of the Xagħra Hill Climb, held last May, when he obliterated the hill record.

Another young driver, Alan Curmi, has recently been having a lot of success with his JBR-3 Kawasaki, and was recently the winner of the last two hill climbs in Sicily.

On his present form, he must surely be regarded as a potential winner at Xagħra on Sunday.

The hill climb, which starts at 9 a.m., will consist of four runs up the 1.3 kilometre hill. The first two will be practice runs, wherein drivers will be making fine adjustments to their cars to suit the conditions on the day.

The third and fourth runs will provide the results, the best time of these being considered for each competitor's final result.

As always, the Xagħra hill climb will attract a number of colourful entries from Gozo as well as the usual competitors from Malta, all grouped into different classes depending on car specification.