Racing in the sun: Malta Classic 2017

Motor racing, a medieval fortified city, sun, sea and sand… Bliss!

If you’re a motor-racing fan who’s looking to escape the doom and gloom of a wet UK autumn, the answer is just a few hours’ flight away. The Malta Classic spans the four days from 5-8 of October, and celebrates all things classic cars with sun, sea and sand thrown in.

Based on the small Mediterranean island of Malta, the event incorporates a hillclimb set against the deep blue sea, a concours d'elegance, and a Grand Prix around the medieval fortified city of Mdina. The latter event is the star of the weekend, and sees more than 70 pre-1976 cars from around the world battling it out in six race groups.

The ultimate prize is being crowned the Malta Grand Prix Champion, and you’ll witness Aston Martins, Ferraris, Jaguars, Alfa Romeos and many more stunning classics to go wheel-to-wheel to claim the crown. This is no sedate parade, either; the cars are driven as they were made to be, as their drivers grit their teeth and charge through the sweeping curves and tight bends of the vineyard-lined course.

The Malta Classic was started back in 2007 by Thierry Giovannini, a French entrepreneur. He introduced classic car racing to the already car-mad nation with an event on the ring road outside the capital Valletta. Now the island’s inhabitants as well as its many visitors can revel in the spectacle of these magnificent machines being driven in anger, on a level with the world’s other prestigious historic racing events such as Goodwood, Monterey and Le Mans.

Entry cost varies from €5 for a paddock entrance to €75 for a weekend VIP ticket; all you need to do is book your flights and get packing.