The first-ever Malta National Virtual Karting Championship 2025 roared into life this past weekend, marking a new milestone for local motorsport. Organised in collaboration with the Malta Motorsport Federation, Gaming Malta, and AC Karting, the event was nothing short of action-packed, with young Maltese karting drivers taking their talents into the digital arena.
For World Pro Racing CEO Justin Mifsud, the launch of this championship represents much more than another competition.
“It’s an honour for us to add another discipline to Malta’s sim racing scene,” said Mifsud during the live broadcast on TVMSPORT+.
“Our aim has always been to nurture Maltese talent, not just by giving them competitions, but by supporting their growth through sim racing, which is crucial nowadays. Not only that, but we prepare them to environments that they need to experience as soon as they reach a higher level of competition, by doing interviews to the podium to further increase their presentation skills.”
Justin Mifsud
AC Karting co-founder Jon Singleton, in a quick interview, also emphasised the importance of the project, noting the effort put into building realistic kart models and tracks. alongside karting champions, he explained. This will not only help active drivers sharpen their skills but also give opportunities to young talents who cannot yet afford to compete on real circuits.
The weekend’s qualifying session saw Kian Gauci immediately stamp his authority, setting the fastest lap of 37.831s He was followed closely by Zack Scicluna registering 37.942s seconds, impressively competing against older drivers, while Benjamin Borg Irimia secured third with a 38.180 seconds. Ayrton Jon Tonna, Timothy Zarb, Eli Tonna, and Joelle Desira rounded out the order.
The first heat was pure domination by Gauci, who converted pole into a commanding win. Behind him, an opening-corner incident created chaos, but young Ayrton Jon Tonna seized the chance to climb into the fight for the podium. Ultimately, Gauci cruised to victory, with Borg Irimia in second and Jon Tonna third.
In the second heat, Gauci once again came out on top, though this time the battle was much tighter. Ayrton Tonna and Zarb kept him honest, with Borg Irimia and Scicluna fighting fiercely for podium contention. Desira, the only female driver on the grid, showed determination and improvement, fighting through positions and earning valuable respect. Gauci, however, remained untouchable, taking his second consecutive win, with Borg Irimia and Zarb joining him in the top three.
The 18-lap final was the perfect showcase of young Maltese karting talent. Gauci got a strong start, but unlike earlier heats, the pressure was relentless. Borg Irimia stayed within striking distance, while Scicluna waited patiently for any mistake to capitalize on.
Further back, an incident between Zarb and Jon Tonna shuffled the order, with Desira moving up into the top five. Midway through the race, Gauci showed nerves of steel, gradually extending his lead while Borg Irimia and Scicluna fought for the remaining podium spots.
When the chequered flag fell, Gauci completed a clean sweep, with three wins out of three, announcing himself as the driver to beat in this historic first championship. Borg Irimia finished just two seconds behind in second, while Scicluna celebrated a hard-earned third. Jon Tonna, Eli Tonna, Zarb, and Desira completed the order.
With Gauci and Borg Irimia proving their experience, and Scicluna showing promise despite racing against older competitors, this shows that the championship is full of unpredictability. The calendar will be even more intriguing given that some drivers may miss rounds due to real-life karting commitments abroad, a factor that could shake up the standings.
What’s certain is that this first-ever national virtual karting championship has already delivered excitement, drama, and proof of Malta’s growing pool of young motorsport talent.
