Six Maltese drivers will return to Racalmuto this weekend to race in the second round of the Campionato Siciliano di Velocita in Pista at the Autodromo Valle dei Templi, near Agrigento.
The Malta team made its debut in motorsport events in Sicily in 2008, and showed their potential immediately with Zach Zammit and Joshua Anastasi taking first and second place overall at the Cesaro hillclimb.
For 2009, the team also entered the circuit racing championship at Racalmuto and again they were very competitive.
Joshua Anastasi became the first Maltese driver to win an overseas championship, and there were many other good placings by Matthew Zammit, Alan Curmi, Johann Spiteri, Edward Calleja, David Anastasi, Patrick Gauci and others.
2010 saw more of the same. At Cesaro it was Matthew Zammit who made it three wins in three years for Malta, but at Racalmuto this was Curmi’s year, the young Maltese driver winning the championship in style.
The drivers who are making the trip to Racalmuto this year have a tough act to follow, but there is plenty of optimism and even more determination.
Three of these drivers will be racing in the very competitive F6 class for 1000cc Formula cars. These are Matthew Zammit, Johann Spiteri and newcomer Simon Camilleri.
Patrick Gauci will be the only Maltese driver in F7 for 1300cc Formula cars, as will Curmi in F8 for 1600 Formula Cars, while Anastasi races in F9 for 2-litre Formula cars. Malta is therefore represented in all four class divisions.
The team, again assisted by Virtu Ferries, leaves tomorrow for Pozzallo, from where they will make the three-hour crossing to Racalmuto to catch the last three hours of the free practice session.
Saturday morning will also be devoted to free practice, with qualifying for grid positions in the afternoon, each group getting 20 minutes of qualifying.
A six-lap race will be held on Sunday morning, followed by a ten-lap final in the afternoon. The meeting closes with the presentation of awards on Sunday evening.
As has been the case since 2007, the team will be led by Joe Anastasi.
“We have six very dedicated young drivers taking part this weekend,” he said. “I have also been told that there will also be quite a few drivers from mainland Italy, so the competition will be even greater than usual.
“That’s just what we want. I’m confident we will return with plenty of silverware, and the Maltese flag will fly high at Racalmuto for the fourth year in succession.”