Grimaldi Team drivers keen to maintain positive record
Joshua Anastasi hopes to steal the limelight in his JBR-4 Kawasaki during the Cesaro hillclimb.
For the third year in a row, Grimaldi Team Malta will field a group of five young Maltese drivers this weekend at the hillclimb in Cesaro. The event is once again being organised by Sicilian race promoter Nando Salerno in conjunction with the Mayor of Cesaro.
The first edition of this three-kilometre hillclimb at the gateway to the beautiful Nebrodi Natural Park was held in 2008. It was the first event in which six Grimaldi Team Malta drivers participated with remarkable success.
Young Zach Zammit, driving a Ralt Honda 2000, was the overall winner establishing a hill record which still stands.
Joshua Anastasi finished second with his JBR-3 Kawasaki 1400 while Italian champion Carmelo Scaramozzino placed third in his Breda BMW 3000. Matthew Zammit was fourth with his Van Diemen Suzuki 1200.
Five Maltese drivers made their way to Nebrodi again in August 2009 and the result was no less impressive with Alan Curmi claiming overall victory in a JBR-3 Kawasaki and Anastasi finishing second overall, driving his new JBR-4 Kawasaki.
True to form, Nikolai Degiorgio had the spectators on their feet as he bombed impressively up the hill in his Lancia Delta Integrale on his way to another class win.
This year, Malta will again have five entries in Cesaro but Zammit, the record holder, will not be present with his Ralt Honda 2000 as the car will not be ready in time. Zammit is the only driver to go under the two-minute barrier in Cesaro.
Curmi, last year's overall winner, is heading to Sicily, aiming to repeat his winning performance in his new Radical PR6 Suzuki.
Anastasi will be doing his best to make it to the top step of the podium in his third event with his improved JBR-4 Kawasaki.
Young Alfasud driver Mark Micallef will be making his first hillclimb appearance in Sicily this weekend.
The father-son duo of Alex (Radical Kawasaki) and Matthew Zammit (Van Diemen Suzuki) are also hoping to leave a positive impression. The team will again be managed by Joe Anastasi.
With the Cesaro hillclimb's popularity on the rise, a number of high-profile Italian drivers are expected to be among the participants which should number over 100.
These will include works cars from Elia Avrio and Autosport Sorrento, a couple of Tatuus Honda Formula Masters, and local boy Jo Spoto driving his new Speads Suzuki.
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Joe M. Anastasi
Jul 29th 2010, 13:36
Alfred, I am in fulkl agreement with your comment about the co-operation or lack of it, of local Mayors and other big wigs, however for these mayors to be present they have to first be invited.
When I invited the Hon. Clyde Puli to attend the hill climb at the Etna in 2008, he reorganised his heavy schedule and made it, to everybody's delight.
I think I should restrict any further comment on this matter to private messages between us as I will definately upset people if I write exactly what I feel about all this.
Thank you again for wishing us luck at Cesaro. We have a great team, though I know the competition is also going to be tough. But I'm still very optimistic.
Alfred Farrugia
Jul 28th 2010, 15:28
I wish all the Maltese drivers and the team leader Joe Anastasi the best of luck and success. 40 years ago we were testing the waters – or more precisely the Sicilian mountains - with standard or modified Minis and Fords. Today our drivers are competing with real racing cars for class wins and an overall place. That is the progress that has been achieved. I augur Alan, Joshua, Matthew, Mark and Alex to perform even better than on previous occasions.
May I suggest that some of our local Mayors take a careful look at how their counterparts in Sicily nourish motor sports. Would not the Mayor responsible for the road at Mtahleb hill be proud if he were to give the starting signal to an international hill climb with foreign racing cars and drivers - as was the case in the mid-1970’s? Dozens of foreign competitors will come to Malta if the road at Mtahleb were re-surfaced. Perhaps the Italian Military Mission can bring it back to life.