Updated 7.35pm with PL statement
The Nationalist Party has accused the government of “betraying” motorsports enthusiasts after failing to complete the quarter-mile track that was originally slated for November 2025.
In a statement on Tuesday, the PN pointed out that more than three months after its intended completion date, “not even half of the works have been carried out” on the track.
“Labour’s promises to car and motorcycle enthusiasts have remained on paper, with results falling far short of what was pledged,” the PN said.
In a Facebook post, Malta Drag Racing Association secretary general Clint D’Amato complained that “only 40 per cent of works” had been carried out.
“You have betrayed Maltese motorsport,” D’Amato said.
The Opposition reiterated its commitment to the development of motorsport in Malta and to all those who have built this sector over the years.
“The PN believes that the sporting community and Maltese sport deserve better.”
The quarter-mile track is part of a motorsport hub that is estimated to cost €78 million.
Details about the project were revealed by PN MP David Agius in October last year, showing the price tag was almost four times higher than the estimated €20 million originally announced by Prime Minister Robert Abela in 2021.
A total of €400,000 was budgeted towards the Ħal Far racetrack for 2026, with the Sports Ministry saying the project’s funding will be a mix of financing from the sovereign wealth fund (NDSF) and national funds.
The PN questioned whether the government would be able to “honour its promise to deliver” the full-scale car racing track after failing to complete the quarter-mile track.
“This is a project that has been promised election after election, yet to this day remains shelved and undelivered.”
However, the Labour Party retorted that the PN “had every opportunity to complete such a project over 25 years in government yet neglected this sector”.
The project includes the construction of two new towers equipped with modern facilities, new impact barriers that meet criteria established by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), and the complete resurfacing of the quarter-mile track using advanced post-tensioned concrete technology.
In total, approximately 1,500 cubic metres of concrete will be used for the quarter-mile surface.
“All this represents a significant step forward, ensuring that motorsport enthusiasts experience a substantial improvement in the quality and standards of this sport,” the PL said in a statement.