Round one of the F4 category at the Malta National Sim Racing Championships 2026 produced a winner apiece at Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday. Jake Sammut took the Sprint Race after a last-corner clash between Intercomp VMD Simsport teammates Aaron Debattista and Craig Caruana opened the door, while Shawn Cassar controlled the Feature Race from the front to win by over two and a half seconds. Mikhail Mercieca, who missed qualifying entirely, was the story of the day, climbing from the back of the grid to the podium in both races.
Qualifying: Dimech Ghirxi on Pole, Mercieca Locked Out
In a 10-minute open qualifying session, Ilan Dimech Ghirxi took pole position for Intercomp VMD Simsport, with Brandon Bonello and Jake Sammut completing the front two rows for Project Eversio. Aaron Debattista qualified fourth, Shawn Cassar fifth, Steve Axisa Farrell sixth, Ayrton Tonna seventh after recovering from a spin, Craig Caruana eighth and Joshua Cauchi Savona ninth. Mikhail Mercieca could not get into the qualifying session at all and was set to start from the back.
Sprint Race: Sammut Wins as Teammates Collide on the Final Lap
Dimech Ghirxi led the early laps of the 15 minute Sprint Race, but the lead changed hands repeatedly as the field ran in a tight, closely bunched train picking up the tow around Spa’s long straights. Contact between Bonello and Cassar at Fania earned Bonello a 10 second penalty and left both his and Steve Axisa Farrell’s races compromised. Dimech Ghirxi later spent his position at the chicane with an unforced spin, and Mercieca, working his way through the field from the back, was in the mix by the closing laps.
The lead group ran nose to tail into the final lap. At the last corner, Debattista and his Intercomp VMD Simsport teammate Caruana made contact fighting for position, and Sammut took full advantage to cross the line first, less than a second clear of Mercieca. Caruana held on to third, and Cassar was fourth.
Feature Race: Cassar Controls It From the Front
Cassar and Caruana shared the front row for the 20 minute Feature Race, and the lead swapped between the pair in the opening laps before Cassar pulled clear and was never seriously challenged again. Bonello’s difficult day continued, losing his rear wing and falling out of contention, while Ayrton Tonna was collected at the final chicane as Caruana rejoined the circuit, through no fault of his own. Steve Axisa Farrell was the standout climber, gaining three positions to finish fourth.
Cassar took the win by just over two and a half seconds from Debattista, with Mercieca completing his podium double in third.
Sprint Race Result
- Jake Sammut – Project Eversio (#53)
- Mikhail Mercieca – Project Eversio (#333)
- Craig Caruana – Intercomp VMD Simsport (#10)
- Shawn Cassar – Intercomp VMD Simsport (#24)
- Ilan Dimech Ghirxi – Intercomp VMD Simsport (#4)
- Aaron Debattista – Intercomp VMD Simsport (#1)
- Steve Axisa Farrell – Project Eversio (#99)
- Brandon Bonello – Project Eversio (#59)
- Ayrton Tonna – Independent (#7)
- Joshua Cauchi Savona – Independent (#9)
Feature Race Result
- Shawn Cassar – Intercomp VMD Simsport (#24)
- Aaron Debattista – Intercomp VMD Simsport (#1)
- Mikhail Mercieca – Project Eversio (#333)
- Steve Axisa Farrell – Project Eversio (#99)
- Ilan Dimech Ghirxi – Intercomp VMD Simsport (#4)
- Jake Sammut – Project Eversio (#53)
- Craig Caruana – Intercomp VMD Simsport (#10)
- Ayrton Tonna – Independent (#8)
- Joshua Cauchi Savona – Independent (#7)
- Brandon Bonello – Project Eversio (#59)
Standings After Round One
The Feature Race pays close to double the Sprint, so Cassar’s win from fourth on the road is enough to take the championship lead ahead of Mercieca, despite Sammut having won the Sprint outright.
| Pos | Driver | Sprint | Feature | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shawn Cassar | 8 | 30 | 38 |
| 2 | Mikhail Mercieca | 15 | 22 | 37 |
| 3 | Jake Sammut | 20 | 14 | 34 |
| 4 | Aaron Debattista | 5 | 26 | 31 |
| 5 | Steve Axisa Farrell | 4 | 19 | 23 |
| 6 | Craig Caruana | 10 | 12 | 22 |
| 7 | Ilan Dimech Ghirxi | 6 | 16 | 22 |
| 8 | Ayrton Tonna | 2 | 10 | 12 |
| 9 | Brandon Bonello | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| 10 | Joshua Cauchi Savona | 1 | 8 | 9 |
Jake Sammut was voted Driver of the Day with 30% of the fan vote. Round two heads to Imola, with the Red Bull Ring, Watkins Glen and Silverstone still to come this season.
Saturday’s round was run under Adrian Figallo as race director, with William England as chief steward and Nicholas Lee Gatt assisting.
Watch the Full Broadcast
You can rewatch the full F4 round one broadcast from Spa-Francorchamps below, with commentary from Jake Sparey and Rhys Gardiner.
