Motorsport, live stunts and action, and a Soapbox car competition will characterise Malta’s annual motoring event, Paqpaqli Għall-Istrina; an event not to be missed by enthusiasts and families and which will be held on 7 December within the grounds of the Malta International Airport and Lufthansa Technik.
Paqpaqli Għall-Istrina is organised by a team on behalf of The Malta Community Chest Fund together with Tonio Darmanin and the Malta Motorsport Federation. The aim of this event is to raise funds for L-Istrina.
Details of this year’s edition were given during a media launch presided by The President of Malta Marie Louise Coleiro Preca and the organising team. She said the event has been a great success over the years and has attracted thousands of people, while raising funds for l-Istrina.
“Paqpaqli Għall-Istrina is a great event which brings together families, motoring enthusiasts and fans, and the public in general to admire their dream cars all in one venue. I wholeheartedly thank the organising team as well as the various participants for making this event possible. I look forward to being there on 7 December together with the thousands of visitors that will be turning up on the day,” said the President of Malta.
Among the attractions, the public will be able to drive four supercars, book dream rides, follow live action on three different circuits and admire luxury and classic vehicles on display in this year’s Paqpaqli Għall-Istrina. Now in its ninth edition, over 1,000 vehicles from 35 local automotive clubs are expected to participate.
One of the attractions for this year’s edition will be the Soapbox car competition, which will see a purposely-built Soapboax start and finish track for participants to run their ingenious 4-wheel creations. Registration for this competition is open.
Tonio Darmanin said: “Start your engines! Paqpaqli Ghall-Istrina has become one of the highlights of Malta’s motoring calendar and a key contributor towards funds for L-Istrina and The Malta Community Chest Fund. From its humble origins nine years ago, this event has become a massive gathering with hundreds of local car enthusiasts and clubs participating, and thousands of Maltese attending to raise funds towards this noble cause.”
Owners of fast cars and bikes will be able to push their vehicles to the limit in what is potentially the longest and most secure straight piece of tarmac in Malta. This event continues to be among the most popular activities as drivers eagerly line up in pairs and speeding along the taxi way in an attempt to reach their vehicle’s top speed.
Paqpaqli Għall-Istrina 2014 will feature, for the second year, an ICC ‘time attack’ challenge where 100 cars will battle for the best time of the day around a technically designed circuit that allows for interesting speeds and fast cornering in a safe environment. Members of the All-Wheel Drive Club will test their skills in a rock crawling activity as Malta’s top offroad vehicles compete against man-made obstacles in a specially designed offroad track. A drifting arena is also being organised by the Malta Drifting Association.
The event is also a fun day out for families and kids with entertainment all day long and children activities. Ample parking spaces will be available and visitors will also able to utilize a shuttle bus service from park and ride facilities.
Attractions
Some of the confirmed attractions for Paqpaqli Għall-Istrina 2014 include:
· As happened last year, Pit Lane Red Passion from Maranello, Italy – home of Ferrari – will be participating with two Ferrari supercars, a 458 Speciale and a 458 Italia which people can drive, against a donation.
· The latest Porsche’s latest road/track car, the 991 GT3 as well as the latest Carrera 4S and the most powerful Macan, the Macan Turbo will all be available for visitors to drive, against a donation. A professional Porsche instructor will be flown in from Porsche for Paqpaqli Għall-Istrina to advise people how to experience the performance of the GT3 at its full potential. Local Porsche owners are invited to take advantage and receive driving instructions on their own vehicles the day before the event at the Paqpaqli venue.
· Two Nissan GT-Rs will also be available for people to take a ride in, against a donation.
· The Ferraris, Porsches and Nissan will be driven on a circuit that will be laid out on Taxiway Lima. The circuit will include a sprint on the taxiway and chicanes to get the best out of the performance vehicles.
· The Lufthansa Apron will be a super car paddock with the international attractions among the local Ferrari, Porsches, new car industry, exotic, prestige and modified cars. All local clubs will be participating and around 1,000 vehicles are expected to be on display.
· A drifting circuit will be laid out on Park 3 and people can take drift rides all day long. The performance circuit (ICC) will be on Apron 4. The off-road course will be on the grass next to the Lufthansa Gate.
· Maltese stunt bikers show.
· The AFM, Police and Civil Protection have joined forces for a show on the day. More details in the coming days and weeks.
· The Soapbox Car competition
Paqpaqli Għall-Istrina has become one of the highlights of Malta’s motoring calendar and a key contributor towards L-Istrina and The Malta Community Chest Fund. Malta’s annual popular motoring event is organised by a team of volunteers on behalf of The Malta Community Chest Fund.
Further information on the event, dream drives, taxi way sprints and time attack circuit can be obtained by sending an email to: [email protected] and follow the ‘Paqpaqli Għall-Istrina’ Facebook page for the latest updates.
Paqpaqli Għall-Istrina will be held on 7 December between 09.00h and 15.30h. Entrance to the show will be at a nominal fee of €10 for adults and €2 for children under 12 years with all proceeds going towards L-Istrina campaign and The Malta Community Chest Fund.
Tickets can be purchased from the offices of The Malta Community Chest Fund at San Anton Palace, or at the gates on the day.
Sponsors
The event would not be possible without the help of these sponsors: Lufthansa Technik, Malta International Airport, Middle Sea Insurance, BOV, Malta Tourism Authority, Express Trailers, Shiplowcost.com, IRIS, James Caterers, AF sign studios, Pure Concepts.