Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/366326
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 20 AUGUST 2014 News 6 University racing team gears up for Formula ATA TIM ATTARD MONTALTO A group of University of Malta students will be taking part in the Formula ATA 2014 competition, which will be held at the Riccardo Paletti Circuit in Varago de Mele- gari in Parma, Italy, over the week- end of 29 August to 1 September. Around 80 universities from around the world take part in the Formula ATA race every year and this will be Malta's second entry, having also taken part in 2007. The students, who form part of the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Economics, Man- agement and Accountancy have been working on the open-wheel formula-style race car since late 2012, and it was completed only last month. The UoM Racing team said that this project aimed to encourage more students to come forward, improve upon this year's car and build new cars to participate in Formula ATA and similar compe- titions in the future. It also aimed to stimulate research in the auto- motive field at the University of Malta. Engineering Faculty Dean Dr Ing John Betts said it was impressive that the students took up the ini- tiative when it did not even form part of the course curriculum. "While the team received some help, it was a project which the students should take full credit for." Team member Dennis Dalli, an engineering student, said the competition in Italy was more than a race. "The team will have to carry out a presentation to a panel of design judges to ensure that all car parts are safe." The car, which cost an estimated €30,000, has been designed from scratch. It has a motorcycle 600cc engine and works on a 'f lat-shift- ing' model, removing the need for a gear lever. Also in attendance were Educa- tion Minister Evarist Bartolo and Transport Minister Joe Mizzi. The project is supported and as- sisted by the University's Research, Innovation and Development Trust (RIDT), along with the Faculty of Engineering and the University of Malta itself. The team expressed their gratitude to faculty advi- sor Dr Ing. Maurizio Fenech, Dr Mario Farrugia and Ing. Noel Bal- zan, as well as the technical staff at the Engineering Faculty. The project's main sponsors include the Education Ministry, Transport Malta, okmalta.com, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, Alarm Tech and Tek-Moulds. Probation after five year case for chipping man's teeth Man remanded in custody for stabbing cousin DANIEL MIZZI A 35-year-old man who in 2009 was involved in a fight during St Helen's feast in Birkirkara has been placed on a three-year probation period, five years after he was charged in court with causing grievous injuries to a fellow feast enthusiast. The court heard that on August 23, 2009, the accused, Ryan Dimech, of St Paul's Bay, took exception at another man for passing in front of him and an argument ensued be- tween Dimech and the other man, Stephen Borg. Dimech ended punching the victim in the face, chipping three teeth. Dentist Adam Bartolo concluded that Borg did not suffer any fractures to his jaw, but he suffered chipped teeth as a result of Dimech's punch. Taking into account Dimech's guilty plea, Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera found the accused guilty of grievously injuring Stephen Borg and of breaching the public peace. The accused was placed under a probation period of three years and ordered to pay €500 in compensa- tion to his victim. Inspector Kevin Farrugia pros- ecuted. A 19-year-old man from Hamrun was yesterday remanded in cus- tody after pleading not guilt y to stabbing his cousin on Sunday af- ternoon. The incident occurred on Sun- day at around 5pm in Triq il-Mik- lem Malti, Marsaskala, when the accused, Brandon Pace, allegedly stabbed his cousin, Ivan Farrugia, who is dating Pace's former girl- friend, in the lungs. Pace is said to have taken excep- tion to the relationship and the two men have been involved in a long-standing argument. The sit- uation apparently reached boiling point on Sunday, as Pace went to the girl 's house in Marsaskala, and stabbed Farrugia in the stomach. Farrugia suffered grievous inju- ries as the stab wound brushed his lungs. Sources said that he spent two days in hospital, and was re- leased from hospital only yester- day. Standing before Magistrate Francesco Depasquale, Brandon Pace pleaded not guilt y to caus- ing grievous injuries to his cousin, and relapsing. Defence law yer Joe Giglio told the court that his client would not be requesting bail due to the "seri- ous nature of the offence." While upholding the defence's plea, Magistrate Depasquale called on the prosecution to summon any witnesses involved as soon as pos- sible. Inspector Robert Said Sarreo prosecuted. PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD Built in Malta from scratch – the University of Malta students' entry for the Formula ATA competition