The Malta National GT3 Esports Championship 2022

The Malta National F4 Championship 2025 delivered another superb spectacle in its fourth round, held at the tight and technical Tsukuba Circuit, the same venue that hosted the GT3 action earlier. With intense wheel-to-wheel racing, strategic battles, and emotional highs and lows, the championship continues to reach new heights, marking this season as the most exciting yet. Fresh off his GT3 victory, Aaron Debattista rolled into F4 with clear momentum and a renewed hunger to recover ground in the championship. His intent was evident from the first practice sessions, where he set the fastest time ahead of series leader Jake Sammut and the consistent Steve Axisa Farrell, but with Tsukuba offering little room for error, nothing was guaranteed. Qualifying quickly proved that point. In the short 10-minute session, Debattista wasted no time, immediately posting a strong lap to set the benchmark. Sammut and Farrell followed closely, but the surprise came from Ilan Dimech Ghirxi, who joined the fight and began trading fastest laps with the front runners. With less than a tenth separating the top four, the final minutes were a nail-biter. On his final flying lap, it was Ghirxi who delivered the knockout punch, snatching pole position ahead of Debattista, with Sammut third. The message was clear that an intense battle was brewing. The sprint race produced drama immediately. A clean launch from Ghirxi, Debattista and Sammut pushed up front, but an incident before Turn 1 shook the midfield and reshuffled the order. Once settled, the top three engaged in a set of battles. Sammut stayed glued to the rear wing of Ghirxi, looking for every opportunity to retake track position. But Ghirxi, showing his strongest defensive driving to date, refused to crack under pressure. Meanwhile, Debattista was in a class of his own. Lap by lap, he extended the gap, demonstrating both masterful pace and controlled aggression. Behind them, Tiashan Moodley recovered brilliantly from the opening-lap chaos to climb into fourth, followed by Nicholas Morton while Sammut’s relentless attempts to unsettle Ghirxi, the positions remained unchanged. Debattista took a commanding victory, crossing the line with nearly a three-second margin. Ghirxi finished an excellent second, while Sammut settled for third, unable to find a way past. The feature race, with its reversed grid format, always promises unpredictability, and this round delivered in full. Farrell launched perfectly from pole, followed closely by Jayden Ellul, who has shown significant improvement after earlier rookie mistakes in previous rounds. Behind them, Morton suffered a spin in the scramble, adding more tension to an already volatile start. While Farrell used his experience to build an early gap, Ellul held firm in second. But both knew danger was lurking as Debattista was pushing through the pack, and Sammut, despite a costly five-second penalty, was also carving his way forward. Mid-race drama struck when Farrell lost the car and spun out of the lead. Ellul inherited first place, and behind him, Sammut and Ghirxi reignited their rivalry. In a decisive and unfortunate moment, the pair collided, ending their podium hopes and reshuffling the entire race picture. This handed the advantage to Debattista, who now had a clear path toward Ellul as the final minutes loomed. Moodley, continuing his impressive form, climbed into third, putting him within reach of his first ever National Championship podium. With 10 minutes left, the pressure was immense. Debattista closed the gap, attacking Ellul with focus and experience. Ellul defended admirably, showcasing how far he has progressed, but Debattista’s race craft proved decisive. With five minutes to go, Debattista executed a clean and clinical move into Turn 1, taking the lead and securing control of the race. Debattista crossed the line first once again, raising his arms in celebration which was a moment of redemption after mistakes in previous rounds and a statement of intent ahead of the final. Ellul claimed an outstanding second place, his best performance so far, while Tiashan Moodley earned his first ever podium, a breakthrough moment for him. This intense and action-packed round proved once again that the Malta National F4 Championship is developing rapidly, with Maltese drivers showcasing increasingly sharper race craft and maturity. The championship now heads toward its grand finale on Saturday, 29th November, broadcast live on TVM at 14:30, where the 2025 National F4 Champion will be crowned.  

The fourth round of the Malta National GT3 Championship 2025, organised in collaboration with the Malta Motorsport Federation, Enemed, and Gaming Malta, delivered the show everyone had been waiting for. Held at the tight and unforgiving Tsukuba Circuit, the race offered non-stop action from start to finish, showing a spectacular comeback victory for Aaron Debattista, who bounced back after a disappointing previous round. Practice sessions showed early predictions, with Brandon Bonello laying down the fastest time, followed closely by Debattista and Ilan Dimech Ghirxi. With the top times separated by mere fractions, anticipation ran high for one of the closest battles of the season. Qualifying did not disappoint. Bonello secured pole with a superb 52.734, edging out Debattista by less than a tenth. Mikhail Mercieca completed the top three, setting up a tense fight for the race ahead. The race began with a clean and disciplined launch from the grid. Bonello immediately moved to defend his lead, while Debattista stayed poised, looking for any opening in the early laps. With Tsukuba’s narrow layout offering few overtaking opportunities, the pressure was relentless. The first major moment came when Mercieca lost control, opening the door for Goran Andreevski, who seized third place with characteristic opportunism. It was shaping up to be Andreevski’s strongest performance of the season, though still far too early to call. Mercieca quickly regrouped and closed back in on Andreevski, applying pressure until a mistake from Goran triggered contact between them. The incident caused Mercieca to fall to sixth, while Andreevski dropped to fourth, allowing Ghirxi to momentarily grab third. But the battle for the final podium position wasn’t over. Andreevski fought back brilliantly, reclaiming third and proving once again how much he has improved this season. Up front, Debattista continued to stalk Bonello, matching and at times surpassing his pace. Despite Bonello’s trademark calmness and consistency, Debattista’s psychological and on-track pressure intensified with each passing lap. Ghirxi later spun on his own, ending his hopes of a podium charge, while Debattista kept chiselling away at the gap. With under two minutes remaining, the decisive moment arrived. Using superior braking and impeccable timing, Debattista launched a move down the main straight, completing a clean and hard-fought overtake on Bonello which was a move that brought the commentator to its feet. Debattista held firm on the final lap, maintaining composure to secure a critical and emotional victory. A long-awaited return to form after recent struggles. Bonello finished second after a strong and controlled performance, while Andreevski claimed his first podium of the season, a reward for his perseverance and strategic racing. “It was quite difficult. To handle the car, manage tyres, and stay consistent while still trying to push. I saw the battles in front and took the opportunities.” Goran Andreevski “I’m not very happy because one small mistake cost me the win. Tyres and fuel load were a big factor, especially with the car getting lighter. Braking points kept changing, and pressure on the tyres increased. I waited for a mistake from Debattista but he kept his cool. Now I’ll focus on Silverstone in the rain. It won’t be easy.” Brandon Bonello “Considering my previous results, this was important. The car wasn’t ideal for this track, but I adapted. Tyre management was crucial since we were close the whole race. I kept pushing and pressuring Bonello, knowing I was stronger under braking. With overtaking so difficult here, I had to wait for the right moment and it paid off. These points are crucial with one race left at Silverstone in rainy conditions, where the Mustang should be strong. I’m fighting for the glory.” Aaron Debattista Round 4 delivered the spectacle fans had hoped for with close racing, strategic battles, and an emotional comeback win. With just one round remaining, the championship fight intensifies as drivers prepare for the final showdown at Silverstone, in wet conditions. The decisive race will be held on Saturday, 29th November, live on TVM at 11:00am.

The 3rd round of the Malta National Virtual F4 Championship at the Red Bull Ring once again delivered everything that makes this series one of the most tense championships ever hosted filled with chaos, breathtaking battles, heartbreak, and moments of pure brilliance. From the first qualifying laps, it was clear the drivers were pushing to the absolute limit. Team Eversio entered the round prepared to continue their dominant form, but Intercomp VMD Simsport’s Aaron Debattista stole the spotlight early with a stunning pole lap of 1:32.283, six-tenths faster than championship leader Jake Sammut, and seven-tenths clear of Ilan Dimech Ghirxi. With less than three minutes left in the session, the tension was sky-high but no one could touch Debattista’s pace. As soon as the lights went out in race 1, Debattista, Sammut, and Ghirxi launched perfectly, immediately setting the pace for a tense 15-minute sprint. Sammut wasted no time, making a clean move past Debattista in the opening corners to reclaim his usual place at the front of the pack. Behind them, Steve Axisa Farrell, Ghirxi, and Andrew Ellul formed a fierce top-five train, swapping positions lap after lap in some of the most intense wheel-to-wheel action seen so far this season. At one point, four cars ran side-by-side, just to show both their sim racing level of performance. Sammut’s consistency shone through as he clocked the fastest laps of the race, keeping Debattista at bay despite relentless pressure. A brief touch between the two sent Debattista wide, but he skillfully recovered, staying in the fight. With five minutes remaining, Ghirxi came alive, setting the fastest lap and showing pace to match the leaders. Then came the heartbreak with a slight mistake from Debattista allowing Ghirxi and Farrell to slip through, dropping Aaron to fourth. Despite pushing hard until the end, he couldn’t regain the lost ground. Sammut took the win, followed by Axisa Farrell and Ilan Dimech Ghirxi in third. With the grid reversed for Race 2, the pressure was on and it didn’t take long for chaos to erupt. After two laps, a heavy collision involved Debattista and Farrell, ending their hopes early. Meanwhile, Jayden Ellul took the early lead, defending fiercely from Ghirxi and Sammut, who had already climbed from ninth to third in just a few laps. Ghirxi’s persistence paid off as he passed Jayden for the lead, but Sammut wasn’t far behind. The reigning leader was flying, setting fastest laps and hunting down both drivers ahead. Unfortunately, Debattista’s nightmare weekend continued with multiple incidents and three drive-through penalties in total, a painful sequence for a driver who started the round with so much promise. Midway through the race, Andrew Ellul seized his moment, climbing steadily after an incident between Debattista and Farrell. With ten minutes remaining, Andrew was fighting for his first-ever podium, maintaining incredible pase under pressure. In the final laps, Sammut closed the gap to Ghirxi with just half a second separated them heading into the last lap. Ghirxi’s heart rate must have been sky-high, but his defense was flawless, holding off the unstoppable Sammut to take his first victory in the championship followed by Sammut in second and Andrew Ellul's first podium in third. After another breathtaking round, Jake Sammut now sits comfortably at the top of the table with 125 points, while Ghirxi, Farrell, and Debattista are tied on 98 points. With just two rounds remaining, the fight for the runner-up spot, and possibly the title, is far from over. This is what the drivers had to say during the post race interviews: “I’m very happy with the result. The only thing I was not happy about was qualifying, as I didn’t reach my target. But I can say I’m satisfied with the races as I could show my capabilities and this proves my level. In Race 2, I managed to gain all positions and reach Ghirxi, who’s very close to my pace. I can confidently say this round I was the best in pace and performance. Two rounds are coming up, and I’ll tackle them one by one. Today’s race wasn’t my preference, and next round at Tsukuba will be quite competitive, but we’ll see how it goes.” Jake Sammut “I’m very excited and happy with my result. The first race wasn’t the best, but I took the most out of it. In the second race, my dream came true. I’ve been working hard for this, and getting my first win feels amazing. Seeing the difference between Race 1 and Race 2, I’m proud of my pace. It won’t be easy to fight for the title, but I’ll do my best.” Ilan Dimech Ghirxi “To be honest, as for pace I knew I wasn’t up to speed. I made a few mistakes, but given my lack of preparation for this round and the fact that this isn’t my favourite track, I accept third position. Ahead of the last two rounds, all I can do is practice more and push harder for better results.” Steve Axisa Farrell What a round. What a show. The Malta National Virtual F4 Championship continues to raise the bar for sim racing in Malta. From blistering qualifying laps to last-lap duels, this series once again proves that Maltese virtual motorsport is world-class in talent, determination, and entertainment. This is Malta’s sim racing level! https://youtu.be/vEiutkndr3A?t=2320

Last Saturday, the third round of the Malta National GT3 Championship 2025, organised in collaboration with the Malta Motorsport Federation, powered by Enemed, and supported by Gaming Malta and Motorsport Malta, unfolded at the virtual Red Bull Ring. While not among the most favoured circuits for many competitors, it remained a crucial round in the five-race national calendar, with every point now critical as the championship moves into its final stages. The weekend opened with Team Eversio once again showing pace early in practice, though as always, the team and other drivers appeared to hold back, a known tactic to conceal their true performance before qualifying. In the short yet intense 10-minute qualifying session, the battle for pole quickly became a three-way contest. Aaron Debattista initially set the benchmark lap, but soon found himself under threat as Mikhail Mercieca and Brandon Bonello traded fastest laps, with Ilan Dimech Ghirxi lurking close behind. As time ticked away, Mercieca momentarily reclaimed provisional pole with a 1:29.171, but in a dramatic final lap, Bonello crossed the line with a stunning 1:29.087, edging out his teammate by just 0.084 seconds. Dimech Ghirxi followed in third, clocking 1:29.508, while Debattista’s run left him disappointed in fourth. The rolling start saw Bonello launch perfectly, maintaining control of the field as the 30-minute race got underway. Teammate Mercieca tucked in behind, while Debattista made an early move on Dimech Ghirxi to secure third place. However, the race soon turned challenging for Ghirxi, who ran wide just three minutes in, an uncharacteristic mistake that cost him valuable time and opened the door for Goran Andreevski and Jean Pierre Caruana to slip through. Andreevski, in particular, impressed with his race craft, holding off Ghirxi for several laps through firm yet fair defensive driving. But eventually, Ghirxi’s persistence paid off as he reclaimed fourth place. At the front, Bonello continued to dictate the tempo. His smooth, consistent rhythm gradually built a small but comfortable gap over Mercieca, who remained within 1.5 seconds but never quite close enough to mount a serious attack. Further back, Debattista regrouped after his early off-track moment, holding steady in third and securing critical championship points despite not being on top form. In the end, it was another dominant victory for Brandon Bonello, his calm and calculated approach proving once again that he’s the driver to beat this season. Mikhail Mercieca followed in second, with Aaron Debattista rounding out the podium. "I honestly don’t know what happened today. The pace wasn’t there, and that’s not acceptable at this level. I need to evaluate what went wrong. Two rounds left and I have to win." Aaron Debattista “After qualifying, I knew it would be a calm race. Bonello was quicker in sector two, and I couldn’t stay close enough to challenge without risking too much. Debattista was five seconds back and a mistake would’ve cost everything. It’s going to be a tough fight until the end.” Mikhail Mercieca “It wasn’t an easy one. There were moments where I had better pace, but Mercieca stayed close, sometimes under a second, so I had to stay fully focused. Sector one was his strength; I maximised my advantage elsewhere. Two rounds to go and I’ll keep pushing to maintain the streak.” Brandon Bonello While this round lacked the chaotic action seen in Imola, it underlined the strategic nature of top-level GT3 racing. With only two rounds remaining, the Malta National GT3 Championship 2025 is entering its decisive phase. Bonello’s continued form places him as the favourite for the national title, but with Mercieca close behind and Debattista determined to strike back, the battle for the title is far from over. https://youtu.be/WRovJ_MZoUo?t=2072