MDRA National Finals, Hal-Far Raceway, Malta

Words and Pictures Ivan Sansom & Rose Hughes
Thanks to Jason Camilleri and the whole of the MDRA for their help and hospitality over the weekend
Check out www.youtube.com/hybridkda for a huge number of videos over the event

Hal-Far Raceway in Malta has offered a refuge from the winter gloom over northern Europe since it’s opening in 1989 as a permanent facility on the old airfield that stood as one of the bulwarks against invasion of the island during WW2. With the Maltese government taking an increasing interest in the opportunities provided by international drag racing competition (Government secretary for youth and sports Clyde Puli and entourage being a prominent visitor to the meeting), funds became available to bring over some nitro powered vehicles for the Maltese Drag Racing Association end of season jamboree to add to the bumper entry of domestic racers providing fierce competition in a myriad of classes.

Originally scheduled as a two day event, the meeting was initially curtailed as a consequence of a couple of lengthy raceday oildowns, but the MDRA decided to complete the home classes the following weekend (next time we’ll book accommodation and flights accordingly!). The bite available in the track caught out a fair few of the visitors, with favourable comparisons being drawn with some of the more vaunted strips in northern Europe; the wisdom of the Hal-Far management in employing VP track prep nomad Lee Child for the 2012 season proving to be a pretty smart move.

All of the overseas visitors we spoke to are plotting a return, and should you be thinking about a soujourn to the Mediterranean, the Maltese Islands (almost guaranteed sunshine, extensive range of hotels, great cuisine, the sparkling seas, and an archipelago steeped in history) offers a pretty impressive package even for the non-drag racing minded.

DTF 6 class

After gaining his Top Fuel license at the start of the European season, the first of his countrymen to do so, Duncan Micallef got the opportunity to race infront of his home crowd behind the wheel of the Telephone Box-backed RFM rail that Antti Horto had raced to fourth spot in the FIA championship. It was a more than successful outing as Micallef ended up victorious in the three car mini-eliminator, and set his new PB and the Hal-Far track record at 4.132/253.81 in qualifying on the Saturday which saw him carried shoulder high in front of the highly appreciative audience.