Cauchi set for Sicily challenge

Malta champion Adrian Cauchi is taking part in the seventh round of the Regional Karting Championship of Sicily at Triscina, Castelvetrano near Trapani, this weekend.

For Cauchi, this will be his first experience at the 1,280m long circuit in Triscina, so his task is more difficult during the early stages of the competition, particularly the qualifying laps and the pre-final.

Hopefully, by the time he reaches the final stage of this championship round, he would have learned all the braking points and the apexes of all the right- and left-hand bends and corners, including the hairpin.

In 2010, Cauchi finished third overall and fourth in class at the Sole Luna, Vittoria, and Pista del Sole, Melilli, respectively.

This year he hopes to place even better, even though he will be experimenting with a new chassis.

Francesco Tomarchio, last year’s champion, has moved to a different category, but this year Cauchi will have to contend with strong Italian drivers Salvatore Battaglia and Davide Vincenzo Scuto who are familiar with the Triscina circuit.

During the pre-final race held in June, Battaglia registered the fastest lap of 50.547 seconds and then went on to win the final race of 20 laps.

Promising driver Jamie Mangion, 14, is joining a contingent of 15 supporters who are crossing over to Sicily to give their backing to Cauchi and his team.

Although Mangion is too young to participate in the championship races, he is hoping to have the opportunity to practise with Cauchi’s other racing kart in the build-up to the race.

Cauchi’s new team is being launched in Sicily. His new kart will display the logos of sponsors Virtu Ferries and the Radisson Blu Resort St Julian’s during the race.