The eighth and last round of the ICC's 2007 Hillclimb and Sprint Championship came to a close last weekend with the Gnejna racing series.

Gnejna is an interesting hill with a fast and flat first section but with a sharp incline to the finish. Racing was close, so close that the top five overall on the day were split by less than 4/10ths of a second. The top placings altered consistently as most drivers improved their own times with every run.

At the end of four runs it was veteran 2006 champion, Lino Brincat, in his Dallara Alfa Romeo, who had the fastest time, by the most minuscule of gaps (0.028 of a second).

Second overall, and delighted to have just clinched his ninth championship, was Hubert Camilleri in his Chevron Cosworth. Third again, but this time with the added satisfaction of a class win, was Paul Deguara on his home-built Moto-flash Yamaha.

Young Zach Zammit was fourth at the end of the third run, with his Jagger Ralt Honda, and Joshua Anastasi fifth on his John Bull Racing/Dunlop JBR3 Kawasaki.

Steve Zammit Cutajar was sixth overall with his Tatuus Hyabusa.

The battle at the top was so intense and exciting that one could be excused for thinking nobody else was there, but in fact there was plenty going on in the lower ranks.

Mark Galea was the quickest touring driver, with his Subaru Impreza WRX, and Joseph Cutajar was his usual self, winding his Escort up to produce the sort of times people simply don't associate with this brand of racers.

Alan Curmi (Mitsubishi EVO 7) had a good day to put himself among the same elite company and in the 40-second bracket as Daniel Vella redeemed himself after a terrible run of bad luck with the timing equipment - it just wouldn't recognise his car - to post a superb 41.5 for 13th overall.

Charlie Cutajar won the competitive Group 2 class 2 in his Escort, and Joe Vella again posted the fastest Group 1 time on his red Honda CRX.

Liaco, local Subaru distributors, sponsored the championship.