Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/850837
22 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 19 JULY 2017 Sport MOTORSPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANGIE CONTI Karl Micallef and Deane Farrugia win the ASMK National Autocross Championship THE 'Assocjazzjoni Sport Muturi u Karozzi' held the last Autocross event of the ASMK Pasta Poiatti 2016/2017 season on Saturday 15 July 2017 with the participation of the Autocross cars. Despite the small number of participants it was still undecided who will be the champions in both the Autocross Modified and Stand- ard Autocross classes. In the Modified class during the Heats of the day we saw Philip Joe Vella on the Opel Corsa winning all the 3 heats thus he reassured his place in the Class A Finals. Andrew Pisani also qualified for this race on his Vauxhall Nova, Karl Micallef on a Ford Fiesta, JeanPaul Grech on a Peugeot 106, the Fiat Punto of Noel Zammit and Brandon Lee Vassallo on his Peugeot 205. With the departure of this race fi- nal we saw the finalists stabilize their place after the first corner where Grech took the lead followed by Vel- la and Pisani. This order continued with Micallef taking fourth place fol- lowed by Zammit and Vassallo. In the first half of this race final we had no change in any car position until the fifth lap when Vella's car developed a mechanical engine failure and he re- tired before the end of the race. The Final Result of this race shows that Grech finished as the race winner of the day. Pisani and Micallef followed close by in 2nd and 3rd places with Zammit and Vassallo finishing in fourth and fifth places respectively. In the finals of Class B only one driver qualified. It was the first expe- rience for Kurt Aquilina on his Opel Corsa to automatically win his first Autocross Class B Final. In the Autocross Standard Class matters were very hot as it was still completely undecided who will raise this year's Championship Winning Trophy. The challenge was mainly between Johann Vella and Farru- gia Deane. During the day we saw Johann Vella on his Opel Nova and Quinn Camilleri on his Peugeot 106 scoring the highest points of the day but despite all this everything completely faded out for Vella dur- ing his third Heat. During this lap Vella played an anti-sporty deed on Farrugia and consequently Farrugia stopped against the tyre barrier and discontinued in the race. This result- ed in the Referee of the day having no option other than stopping Vella by the Black Flag as stated by the race regulations and Vella had to pack and go home. This decision was also con- firmed after viewing the video clips provided and by agreement of the ASMK committee present. The Association wish to apologize itself to all present on that day and condemns the anti-sporting scene by some of Vella's supporters following this Black Flag decision. In the com- ing days ASMK is expected to take further disciplinary action against the members involved in this deed as well as it is expected to take to court some of these members who were ac- tive in these un-sporty scenes. Meanwhile, shortly afterwards the situation was controlled and the day's program continued as planned with the first Autocross Standard Class Race Finals. Here the Start Line was composed by Quinn Camilleri on his Peugeot 106, the Citroen AX of Deane Farrugia, Jerom Peplow on his Kia Avella and Karl Curmi on his Opel Corsa. Kyle Agius on the Re- nault 5 did not start the race final. With the departure of this final Far- rugia and Camilleri were seen to do the best launch but it was Farrugia to take the helm of this race final while followed by Camilleri. The order con- tinued with Curmi taking third place and followed by Peplow in fourth place. During the nine Laps the four competitorsdefended their positions in a fast and sporty manner to the end. Farrugia's final win granted him the Championship's win too. Camill- eri followed close by to Farrugia and Curmi finished in third place. At the end of the day ASMK held the official ceremony for the 2016/2017 National Autocross Championship. Karl Micallef on his Ford Fiesta won his first National Modified Auto- cross Championship for 2016/2017. During this season Micallef has won only one race but he finished in vari- ous high places in a number of other events. Micallef won this Champion- ship with 226 points followed by Gor- don Johnson on his Opel Corsa who closed this Championship with 189 points. The 2016/2017 Standard Autocross National Championship was won for the third consecutive time by Deane Farrugia on his Citroen AX. Farru- gia was one of the first competitors who began to participate in this class since the birth of this class and have since managed to win three consecu- tive titles. Farrugia won this 2016 - 2017 title with 59 points followed by Johann Vella on his Opel Nova with 47 points. Further information one can find it on the website of the Association www.asmk.org.mt or in the Facebook pages named A.S.M.K. Malta or As- socjazzjoni Sport Muturi u Karozzi. One can also make contact by email:- info@asmk.org.mt Karl Micallef Deane Farrugia