The second round of the Malta National Virtual Karting Championship, organised in collaboration with the Malta Motorsport Federation AC Karting, and Gaming Malta unfolded last weekend at the virtual South Garda Karting Circuit. With two of the leading drivers, Kian Gauci and Zak Scicluna, absent due to international racing commitments, the event was set for a fresh shake-up in the standings, and the competition did not disappoint.
From the early practice sessions, it was evident that the grid was fired up. Ayrton Jon Tonna, Benjamin Borg Irimia, and Timothy Zarb immediately showed strong pace, hinting at the battle to come. In qualifying, the fight for pole went down to the wire. Tonna initially led the timing sheets until Borg Irimia snatched pole position in the closing seconds with a stunning 47.322s, just ahead of Tonna’s 47.392s and Zarb’s 47.723s. Eli Tonna followed with 48.456s, while Joelle Desira, the only female competitor, clocked 51.051s which is an impressive effort that drew well-earned respect from her fellow racers.
The first of the 10-lap races began with an explosive start as Ayrton Jon Tonna surged into the lead, chased closely by Borg Irimia and Zarb. However, an early mistake from Eli Tonna saw him spin but rejoin to continue the fight. The front pack delivered intense action, with Tonna and Borg Irimia engaged in a fierce battle that eventually led to contact between the two.
Seizing the opportunity, Timothy Zarb slipped past to take the lead, but the relentless Borg Irimia soon reclaimed it with a clean overtake. Meanwhile, at the back, Eli Tonna pushed hard to recover lost ground, while Ayrton regrouped to climb back into podium contention.
Borg Irimia crossed the finish line first, followed by Zarb and Ayrton. However, race control reviewed the incident between Tonna and Borg Irimia and issued a five-second penalty to the latter, altering the results. The revised classification crowned Timothy Zarb the winner, Ayrton Jon Tonna second, and Eli Tonna third, a deserved reward for his performance.
The second race began with a restart after a misaligned grid formation, reflecting the realism of the virtual series’ race regulations. But luck was not on Eli Tonna’s side once again, as an early incident sent him to the back.
At the front, Ayrton Jon Tonna took immediate control, building a commanding gap of over three seconds on Borg Irimia and six on Zarb. His pace was unmatched, his lines clinical, and his confidence clear with a near-perfect drive that secured him victory in Race 2, ahead of Borg Irimia and Zarb, who completed the podium.
Everything came down to the final race, with valuable championship points at stake. Ayrton again launched into the lead but was instructed by race control to yield the position to Borg Irimia after a close opening exchange. The pressure intensified as both drivers pushed to the limit, trading lap times within tenths of each other.
A dramatic collision saw Borg Irimia go off track while Ayrton continued, setting the tone for a tense final few laps as officials monitored the situation. Meanwhile, Joelle Desira showcased her progress, defending firmly and putting on one of her best performances yet.
Despite the tension, Ayrton Jon Tonna maintained composure and pace to take victory in the final race and, ultimately, the overall round win. After reviewing the incident by race control, Ayrton Jon Tonna was handed a 5 second penalty, yet kept his position and officially won the round. His celebration, broadcast live on TVMSport captured pure joy, his parents cheering proudly behind him. Borg Irimia finished second overall, with Zarb completing the podium in third. Eli Tonna recovered to fourth, while Desira rounded out the top five.
Overall championship points now have changed with Benjamin Borg Irimia now leading the championship with 52 points, followed by Ayrton Jon Tonna with 46 points, and Eli Tonna in third with 38 points.
With two of the strongest competitors, Gauci and Scicluna returning for Round 3, the next event promises even more drama and close racing. But Round 2 proved that the grid is full of hungry, talented drivers ready to step up when opportunity knocks.
The Malta National Virtual Karting Championship continues to serve as a bridge between virtual and real-life motorsport, sharpening driver skill and racecraft in a professional, competitive environment. As the championship progresses, one thing is certain that the fight for the title is far from over.
