Target For Ħal Far Motorsport Racetrack Moved From November 2022 To Sometime This Legislature
A dedicated motorsport racetrack at Ħal Far was originally supposed to open next month but has been pushed back to the end of the legislature.
In his Budget speech yesterday, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana said the track will be built and completed “in this legislature”, which is set to expire in 2027.
“Investment by the National Development and Social Fund in a national motorsport centre in Ħal Far will see the current drag racing and karting tracks upgraded,” Caruana said, “This circuit will raise the level of motorsports and attract new championships to our shores.”
“Now that plans for the construction of a track have been submitted, we will ensure that it is built and completed in this legislature.”
From Clyde Caruana's budget speech
While motorsports enthusiasts will no doubt be pleased that the track is still on the table despite a cost-cutting exercise to make up for electricity subsidies, it does mean the initial targets have been pushed back.
In September 2021, the government announced a €20 million investment into a national motorsport centre at Ħal Far aimed at building a dedicated circuit for racers, as well as ramp up existing services for drag racing and karting.
A planning application for the project, which was designed by German experts in consultation with the Malta Motorsport Federation, was filed the same day.
Former parliamentary secretary for citizenship Alex Muscat launching the proposed motorsport racetrack
“The motorsport community has waited long enough. It’s time to go for the big investment,” Prime Minister Robert Abela said back then.
The original idea was for the track to be up and running by November 2022, with Malta Motorsport Federation president Duncan Micallef stating that the nation could even host the FIA European Drag Racing Championship in April 2023.
PL MP Alex Muscat, back then parliamentary secretary of the NDSF fund, said the project should only take a few months to complete.
“Some of you thought that our electoral promise won’t be delivered, but I promise those doubters that the government always delivers on its promises,” Muscat said. “The money is there, the land is there and you can rest assured that the track will be up and running n a few months’ time.”
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