Carmel Cilia was recognised with the highest award of the night during the first edition of the Audi Malta Motorsport Awards 2015 held on Friday.
The awards ceremony, hosted by Chris Cauchi and organised by Malta Motorsport Federation (MMF) in conjunction with Audi Malta, D Kalkara Regatta, England Insurance Agency Ltd, TVM2, A&S, RVC and Chevron Creative Solutions, was staged in Kalkara.
The ceremony saw 16 national recognitions and two special awards distributed to various race champions and officials.
Cilia received an unanimous vote from the members.
He was presented with his MMF Honorary Award by Transport Minister Joe Mizzi and with an exclusive Audi watch by Audi Brand Ambassador and former Formula One driver Emanuele Pirro, the special guest on the night.
MMF president Tonio Cini hailed Cilia for his great dedication to the sport and stated that Cilia was a local motorsport icon.
Another special award was presented to Marco Ferrari, General Director of ACI Sport Italia, for his support and the friendly collaboration that exists between the two national federations.
Last year, ACI Sport Italia supported a call made by Malta Motorsport Federation to the FIA World Motor Sport Council so that local kart racing drivers can compete in championships which fall under the ACI Sport Italia, an exemption that very few countries enjoy besides Malta.
Five-time Le Mans champion Pirro also addressed those present and said he was impressed with the enthusiasm for the sport in Malta.
“One must learn and evolve and our sport is evolving year by year to be much more safer than it was before,” Pirro said.
Award winners
All Wheel Drive Club Malta
Robert Caruana; Kevin Mallia
Island Car Club
Keith Camilleri; Aldo Laferla
Karting Club Malta
Clayton Mizzi; Gianluca Dingli
Malta Drifting Association
Kaysie Wood; Carmelo Borg
Malta Drag Racing Association
Duncan Micallef; Shawn Buttigieg
Old Motors Club
Lino Gauci Borda; Paul Cutajar
Porsche Club Malta
Malcolm Farrugia; William England
Valletta Gran Prix Foundation
Nikolai De Giorgio; Joseph Said
MMF Special Award
ACI Sport Italia – Marco Ferrari
Audi and MMF Honorary Recognition Award
Carmel Cilia