Planning Authority approves permit for Off-Road circuit in Mellieħa

The Malta Motorsport Federation announced that the Planning Authority has issued permits so that offroad racing can be practiced in a quarry at Aħrax, limits of Mellieħa.

For the local governing body of motor sport this was yet another boost for the sport after earlier this week Prime Minister Robert Abela had announced that a motor racing track is set to be built in Ħal Far.

“After last Monday, Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that in cooperation with the Malta Motorsport Federation, the building of a circuit and a substantial investment at the Drag Racing and Karting Tracks, today came out another beautiful news: this time for Off-Road enthusiasts,” a statement from the Malta Motorsport Federation said.

“After legal notice number 196/97 was published in 1997, declaring Off-Road illegal in Malta except in areas identified for this sport, the Authority of Lands, together with the All-Wheel Drive Club and The Malta Motorsport Federation, has identified a quarry at Ahrax, limits of Mellieha, as the area where Offroad can be practised.

“By legal notice 454 of 2011, dated 12 October 2011, the land authority transferred this Quarry to the then Kunsill Malti Għall-Isport, today SportMalta, which subsequently passed it on to the Malta Motorsport Federation.

“In 2016 the Federation applied for the necessary permits, and today with satisfaction, the planning authority approved this project, and this site can, at last, be used for the practice of off-roading in a safer environment.”