Xerxen roars to victory in Cyprus

Nicholas Xerxen achieved another landmark success for Maltese motor sport after winning the European Time Attack Challenge in Cyprus last weekend.

The event attracted 30 entries from all over Europe, including three teams from Malta, the Malta Motorsport Federation said in a statement.

Xerxen, at the wheel of his Concorde Racing Mitsubishi Evo 7, was confident of a good result.

After fine-tuning his car, Xerxen produced a great drive, posting the fastest time in the European Time Attack Challenge with 1.04.449 – a track record – in the 31st lap.

Cyprus driver Andy Papageorgiou was second in his Mitsubishi Evo 3 after clocking 1.04.950.

Another excellent result was that of Maltese newcomer Daniel J. Vella who finished fourth in his first ever participation in the European Time Attack Challenge.

Vella, the son of motor sport correspondent Pierre Vella, impressed in his Kyokudo Racing Subaru Impreza with his fastest lap being 1.05.739.

The other Maltese driver in action yesterday, Josef Calleja, finished a respectable 19th (1.10.685) in his GFI Software Subaru Impreza.