RE: Malta Classic 2017 preview

RE: Malta Classic 2017 preview

Monday 18th September 2017

Malta Classic 2017 preview

Racing around a medieval fortified city in the Med, what more could you ask for?



Classic racing events provide some great spectacles, both for those who remember watching the cars in their youth and those seeing them for the first time. They're a chance to show a new generation how great racing once was, and a rare opportunity to see some of the finest cars ever built still being used as intended. Now there's yet another annual gathering, vying for attention against the long list of prestigious names including Goodwood, Monterey and Le Mans. And that name is Malta.


Spanning the four days from the 5th-8th of October, the Malta Classic is based on the small Mediterranean island of Malta, obviously, and celebrates all things classic cars. It includes a hill climb set against the perfect backdrop of the Mediterranean sea, Concours d'Elegance and a Grand Prix around the medieval fortified city of Mdina.

The Grand Prix is the talk of the event with over 70 pre-1976 cars from across the globe battling it out in six race groups, all hoping to make it to the final showdown and be crowned Malta Grand Prix Champion. Expect Ferraris, Aston Martins, Alfa Romeos, Jaguars and many others to go wheel to wheel through the tight bends and sweeping curves as they navigate the vineyard lined course.

The Classic is starting to gain some real traction, having been started in 2007 by French entrepreneur Thierry Giovannini. No stranger to motor racing, it was Giovannini who brought classic car racing to the already car mad country with a race on the ring road outside the capital Valletta. Tickets for the event vary from €5 for a paddock entrance to €75 for a weekend VIP ticket. If you are up for escaping the wet weather and watching some classic racing, Malta Classic is one not to miss.

 

 

[Photos: Laszlo Szilagyi]

Author
Discussion

v8griff

Original Poster:

71 posts

259 months

Monday 18th September 2017
quotequote all
I'm surprised they expect you to pay for the privilege of watching old cars belting around Valetta.

Visit the island any other time and watch the locals do if for free, they are mental!

Tri_Doc

571 posts

133 months

Monday 18th September 2017
quotequote all
We did this event in 2015 following an article about it in Evo magazine and only because the dates happened to match up with a pre-booked trip. You can watch the racing for free from various viewpoints but you can get right up to park ferme without a ticket. It's also in a very pretty part of the island.
Well worth a look if you're there, not sure i'd book a flight especially for it.

wolfracesonic

6,940 posts

126 months

Monday 18th September 2017
quotequote all
v8griff said:
I'm surprised they expect you to pay for the privilege of watching old cars belting around Valetta.

Visit the island any other time and watch the locals do if for free, they are mental!
Do they still have those shonky old green buses?driving

Riley Blue

20,915 posts

225 months

Monday 18th September 2017
quotequote all
Not much to be seen much in Valetta, the event is in Mdina.

fast eddys

1,145 posts

200 months

Monday 18th September 2017
quotequote all
We are out there this year as acquired a customer on the island last year and he told us about it. Sounds great and looking forward to it as part of our 10 day break. Even at the Ferrari dinner on Saturday evening as guests so may have to get a prancing horse keyring of fleabay to place in view on the table lol

emiliotony

33 posts

86 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
wolfracesonic said:
Do they still have those shonky old green buses?driving
Nope we got shonky new green arriva buses now

emiliotony

33 posts

86 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
v8griff said:
I'm surprised they expect you to pay for the privilege of watching old cars belting around Valetta.

Visit the island any other time and watch the locals do if for free, they are mental!
Its the sun innit, goes straight to our heads

v8griff

Original Poster:

71 posts

259 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
wolfracesonic said:
Do they still have those shonky old green buses?driving
Sadly not...wonder where they went? Actually Malta used to be full of old relics. We hired a Triumph Herald in the early eighties that had a removable gear lever, it used to detach when down changing which was interesting.

emiliotony

33 posts

86 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
v8griff said:
Sadly not...wonder where they went? Actually Malta used to be full of old relics. We hired a Triumph Herald in the early eighties that had a removable gear lever, it used to detach when down changing which was interesting.
some of the old buses are being kept in private collections, some are property of the government whos going to open a museum to put them in but most have been scrapped

emiliotony

33 posts

86 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all

adma23

68 posts

140 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
I'm taking part in a period modified Cooper S and took part last year too placing 4th overall in the Hill Climb and qualifying 5th over all (retired from final race). Mega fun event with a hill climb on the Thursday , Concours d'elegance on Friday and races on Saturday and Sunday. Anyone interested in joining or needing tickets or assistance with accomodation please do contact me and I'd be glad to help or hook you up with the organisers! adrianma@credence. com.mt