Over 1,000 vehicles from 35 local automotive clubs and car enthusiasts will be participating in this year’s edition of Paqpaqli Ghall-Istrina on Sunday week within the grounds of the Malta International Airport and Lufthansa Tecknik.
The vehicles include classic, luxury and sports cars.
This year’s edition, the eighth, will feature major a FireForce 3 Jet Car, a Ferrari F430 Challenge, and the Lexus LFA supercar.
Members of the public can book a drive on the Ferrari F430 Challenge. Details can be obtained by sending an email to paqpaqli2013@gmail.com
The legendary Ferrari F430 Challenge is a non-road legal variant of the road-going Ferrari 430. It has been extensively modified by Ferrari to boost its on circuit performance with extensive weight reduction and suspension changes. Just like in previous Ferrari Challenge cars the 8-cylinder 483hp engine has largely remained the same as on the production road cars except for some enhanced breathing by means of a racing exhaust system and some engine management tweaks and fine blueprinting. The transmission is the 6-speed, paddle operated, sequential manual found in the F430. The transmission uses F1 technology and can shift gears in 150 ms.
Another attraction will be the stunt show featuring the Malta Police Corps and a stunt getaway driver in a Subaru Impreza. The show will start with the Subaru Impreza making a getaway escape and this will develop into a chase featuring police cars. This spectacle, which will be repeated three times during the day.
The show will also give the owners of fast cars and bikes the chance to push their vehicles to the limit in what is possibly the longest and most secure straight piece of tarmac in Malta.
Paqpaqli Ghall-Istrina is holding the first ever ‘time attack’ where 100 cars will battle for the best time of the day around a technically designed circuit that allows for interesting straight line speeds and fast cornering in a safe environment.
Meanwhile, the All Wheel Drive Club will this year be organising a pursuit activity, with the top offroad vehicles on the island competing against man-made obstacles in a specially designed offroad track.
Paqpaqli Ghall-Istrina raises funds for L-Istrina and the Malta Community Chest Fund.
Paqpaqli Ghall-Istrina will be held on December 8 between 9 am and 3.30 pm. Entrance to the show will be at a fee of €10 for adults and €2 for children under 12 years. Tickets can be purchased from the offices of The Malta Community Chest Fund at San Anton Palace, or at the door on the day.