Red Bull Air Race 2018 calendar

Red Bull Air Race 2018 calendar to include first-ever stop in France

08.11.2017

In 2018, the Red Bull Air Race World Championship will make eight stops around the globe, featuring classic series destinations and exciting surprises like a premiere in Cannes – the first French race in the history of the sport. Here’s a preview.   Cannes, France – On 2-3 February, the campaign for the 2018 World Championship will take flight with a record 11th consecutive season opener in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Next: Cannes rolls out the red carpet for the series’ long-awaited debut in France on 21-22 April. With French pilots in both the Master Class and the Challenger Class – including the first woman to compete in the series, Mélanie Astles – the 370kmh action over the Riviera will undoubtedly mark one of the high points of the season.   In May, the towering 25-meter Air Gates will rise at another European location, still under wraps, for the third stop of the season; while the midpoint will be celebrated as the raceplanes once again speed under the iconic Chain Bridge in Budapest, Hungary on 23-24 June.   The 2017 World Champion Yoshihide Muroya of Japan – the first Asian pilot ever to claim the overall title – is sure to be the center of attention when the second half of the calendar kicks off with a race in Asia slated for August at a location to be announced. Then on 25-26 August it’s a return to Kazan, Russia, where the World Championship ignited the passion of the country’s motorsport fans with a maiden race in 2017.   The final two stops will criss-cross the globe, with a showdown on 6-7 October at the USA’s famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the third year in a row, followed by the high drama of a November season finale, which will make history as the first to be held in Asia (location TBA). “The 2017 title went down to the wire, keeping the world in suspense up until the final run of the final race, and now the teams are using the off-season to make their raceplanes even faster,” says Erich Wolf, General Manager of Red Bull Air Race GmbH. “The best pilots in the world just keep getting better, and the destinations that will welcome them next year are spectacular. I can’t predict who will win the 2018 season, but I guarantee it’ll be one to watch.” Ticketing for the 2018 Red Bull Air Race World Championship is underway. For all the latest news and information, including tickets, visit www.redbullairrace.com. Red Bull Air Race 2018 Calendar 2-3 February: Abu Dhabi, UAE 21-22 April: Cannes, France 26-27 May: Europe, location TBA 23-24 June: Budapest, Hungary 4-5 August: Asia, location TBA 25-26 August: Kazan, Russia 6-7 October: Indianapolis, USA November: Asia, location TBA  ###   ABOUT RED BULL AIR RACE Created in 2003, the Red Bull Air Race World Championship has held more than 80 races around the world. The Red Bull Air Race World Championship features the world’s best race pilots in a pure motorsport competition that combines speed, precision and skill. Using the fastest, most agile, lightweight racing planes, pilots hit speeds of 370kmh while enduring forces of up to 10G as they navigate a low-level slalom track marked by 25-meter-high, air-filled pylons. In 2014, the Challenger Cup was conceived to help the next generation of pilots develop the skills needed for potential advancement to the Master Class that vies for the World Championship. NEWSROOM The Red Bull Air Race Newsroom is a free media service providing news, stories, high-resolution photography, audio, footage for TV and web, as well as race results and background information about the Red Bull Air Race World Championship. www.redbullairracenewsroom.com

Muroya wins 2017 Red Bull Air Race World Championship

Yoshihide Muroya’s race went from disaster to delirium on Sunday, when after facing elimination in his opening heat, the Japanese pilot finished as the 2017 Red Bull Air Race World Champion. In the season finale at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Martin Šonka of the Czech Republic earned second overall and Pete McLeod of Canada took third.

Indianapolis (USA) – The season finale was heartstopping from the very beginning, with Šonka and Muroya, ranked one and two in the standings, going head to head in the Round of 14. Flying first, Muroya’s championship hopes seemed to be over when he incurred a two-second penalty – but in strong winds Šonka hit a pylon for a three-second penalty that advanced Japan’s hero to the Round of 8. The other two pilots with a chance for the championship, Pete McLeod (Canada) and Kirby Chambliss (USA) also stumbled in the opening round, but Muroya still couldn’t rest, because Šonka ended up advancing after all as the round’s fastest loser. When the title contenders both won their Round of 8 heats, it all came down to the Final 4. 



There, going first with everything on the line, Muroya was fearless, flying to a new track record of 1:03.026 that 2016 World Champion Matthias Dolderer of Germany and Spain’s Juan Velarde couldn’t match. The pressure all was on Šonka. The Czech pilot flew cleanly, but with a technical issue plus a wing stall in the Vertical Turning Maneuver, he could manage only 1:07.280, and both the race win and Asia’s first Red Bull Air Race World Championship belonged to Muroya.

As the race awards were handed out in the iconic infield of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Muroya was joined on the podium by Dolderer in second and Velarde in third. Then, when the World Championship trophy was presented, Muroya was sprayed with champagne by Šonka and McLeod, who stood on the overall podium for the first time themselves with second and third place overall, respectively.  

“This is an amazing chapter for motorsports to win a race here. It was the tightest championship ever with the four of us close right up until the end. We were behind at the start of the season, so it was the long way and the hard way, but we made it,” said Muroya as he held back tears. “I thought the timing was broken when I saw my time in the Final 4, and before the race our computer would have said it wasn’t possible, so something was pushing me quite a lot. That was the fans, my family and my team, so thanks to them for making it happen.”

Clinching Japan’s first World Championship at Indianapolis Motor Speedway also marked a remarkable new milestone in the history of the century-old racetrack, where just this year Takuma Sato – who was on site all weekend to cheer Muroya – became the first Japanese racecar driver to win the famed Indianapolis 500. 

Results Master Class race Indianapolis 2017: 
1. Yoshihide Muroya (JPN), 2. Matthias Dolderer (GER), 3. Juan Velarde (ESP), 4. Martin Šonka (CZE), 5. Petr Kopfstein(CZE), 6. Mikaël Brageot (FRA), 7. Michael Goulian (USA), 8. Matt Hall (AUS), 9. Cristian Bolton (CHI), 10. Kirby Chambliss(USA), 11. Pete McLeod (CAN), 12. François Le Vot (FRA), 13. Nicolas Ivanoff (FRA), 14. Peter Podlunšek (SLO)

Final standings, 2017 Red Bull Air Race World Championship: 1. Yoshihide Muroya (JPN) 74 pts,   2. Martin Šonka(CZE) 70 points, 3. Pete McLeod (CAN) 56 pts, 4. Kirby Chambliss (USA) 53 pts, 5. Petr Kopfstein (CZE) 43 pts, 6. Matt Hall (AUS) 40 pts, 7. Matthias Dolderer (GER) 39 pts, 8. Juan Velarde (ESP) 37 pts, 9. Michael Goulian (USA) 28 pts, 10. Mikaël Brageot (FRA) 24 pts, 11. Nicolas Ivanoff (FRA) 16 pts, 12. Peter Podlunšek (SLO) 14 pts, 13. Cristian Bolton (CHI) 9 pts, 14. François Le Vot (FRA) 9 pts

Japan’s Muroya Captures First Win at San Diego Red Bull Air Race

The second stop of the 2017 Red Bull Air Race World Championship was full of surprises on Sunday, as none of names on the podium matched those of February’s season opener. Yoshihide Muroya of Japan claimed the win, while Slovenia’s Peter Podlunšek was second, and defending World Champion Matthias Dolderer of Germany took third. San Diego, California (USA) – As one upset followed another at the second stop of the 2017 Red Bull Air Race World Championship in San Diego, California on Sunday, Yoshihide “Yoshi” Muroya of Japan was the only pilot with the consistency to earn the triumph. Dazzling more than 40,000 fans across race weekend, Muroya ended up dominating the Final 4 with a time of 58.529.  While Peter Podlunšek was almost two seconds back at 1:00.454, the first Slovenian Red Bull Air Racer surprised everyone - including himself - by capturing second place in his first-ever Final 4. Peter has made incredible improvements from last year - his rookie season. He  Reigning World Champion Matthias Dolderer was third after a pylon hit, and America’s own Kirby Chambliss finished fourth after a high call on the final pylon.  . Earning 15 World Championship points with the victory, Muroya jumped up 10 places in the overall standings, to third behind Martin Šonka of the Czech Republic (21 points) and Dolderer (16). The result was especially meaningful because the next stop of the season is in Muroya’s home skies at Chiba, Japan – where he earned his first race win just last year. “I’m quite happy. We had a very hard time at the season opener in Abu Dhabi, and we’ve been working really hard for months,” said Muroya, who had an over-G penalty at the 2017 kickoff. “My crew and my family have been helping a lot to help us get more stable and consistent, and I thank them. The next race in Japan is going to be a big one, and it’s an important step forward to win here as I head to my home country. It’s a huge crowd and pressure for me, but I will have fun there.” Tickets for the 2017 Red Bull Air Race World Championship –including October 14-15 in Indianapolis - the next USA stop. – are on sale now. For more information on tickets and all the latest, visit www.redbullairrace.com Results Master Class San Diego 2017: 1. Yoshihide Muroya (JPN), 2. Peter Podlunšek (SLO), 3. Matthias Dolderer (GER), 4. Kirby Chambliss (USA), 5. Martin Šonka (CZE), 6. Petr Kopfstein (CZE), 7. Nicolas Ivanoff (FRA), 8. Michael Goulian (USA), 9. Matt Hall (AUS), 10. Pete McLeod (CAN), 11. Juan Velarde (ESP), 12. François Le Vot (FRA), 13. Mikaël Brageot (FRA), 14. Cristian Bolton (CHI) World Championship standings after two races: 1. Martin Šonka (CZE) 21 points, 2. Matthias Dolderer (GER) 16 pts, 3. Yoshihide Muroya (JPN) 15 pts, 4. Juan Velarde (ESP) 12 pts, 5. Peter Podlunšek (SLO) 12 pts, 6. Pete McLeod (CAN) 10 pts, 7. Nicolas Ivanoff (FRA) 10 pts, 8. Michael Goulian (USA) 8 pts, 9. Kirby Chambliss (USA) 7 pts, 10. Petr Kopfstein (CZE) 5 pts, 11. Cristian Bolton (CHI) 4 pts, 12. François Le Vot (FRA) 3 pts, 13. Matt Hall (AUS) 3 pts, 14. Mikaël Brageot (FRA) 2 pts Above photography used with permission from Red Bull Air Races Below photography is mine.  Pylon - up close New Flavors and these are from Jason Fisher Media Boat Pylon Cutter Recreating the course - with Red Bull cans.

Red Bull Air Race 2014: Worth the Wait

After a three-year hiatus, the Red Bull Air Race World Championship came back in 2014 with dramatic action.

It all started when twelve of the world’s best pilots reunited in February for the season opener in Abu Dhabi. The new rules, which mandated standardization of engines and propellers, were created to level the playing field and to make the action tighter – and they did.

Fans were able to see the action at eight locations on three continents. Venues like England’s Ascot Racecourse and the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria completely sold out, and at the race in Gdynia, Poland – the officials had to close access to the beach viewing when they reached the mandated civic limit of 130,000. Now, that’s a crowd!

Other interesting venues included two in the USA – both racetracks owned by Bruton Smith; Texas Motor Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway. While the Texas race was exciting and fun – though hot and humid, the Las Vegas race was sidelined by incredibly high winds which made the pylons unstable and the fans disappointed.

This year, the competition was closer than ever and made even small mistakes resulting in penalties much more costly over the season. It was exciting racing right through to the season finale at Red Bull’s home in Spielberg, Austria.

In the end, Britain's Nigel Lamb became only the sixth Champion in Red Bull Air Race World Championship history. At the wire, he beat local hero, Hannes Arch of Austria and Britain's Paul Bonhomme.

By finishing second, Lamb was able to amass enough points - after Hannes Arch ended up in fourth place due to penalties.

"It's just amazing," said Lamb, "I feel very lucky because I didn't think that my time was even good enough to get on the podium. It's an amazing feeling. It's a great day. It's an indescribable feeling."

Nigel Lamb flying through the Pylons at the finale in Austria

Nigel Lamb – Red Bull World Champion 2014

Nigel is well known in the Aerobatic Competition and Airshow Worlds. Born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), he was inspired to become a pilot by his father – a Royal Air Force Fighter Pilot in World War II. Nigel joined the Rhodesian Air Force and became qualified in Jets and Helicopters. Leaving the Air Force in 1980, he settled in England flying for the Marlboro Aerobatic Team.

An eight time British Unlimited Aerobatic Champion, he was a member of the British Team in three World Aerobatic and two Europe Championships.

He has also flown in several movies including a favorite of mine, Dark Blue World. He flew the Spitfire in some pretty incredible scenes in that movie. He also fly a P-51 Mustang in Hart’s War and was the Chief Pilot in Flyboys.

He is one of the few people I know who flies in so many different genres of aviation – from warbirds to jets to helicopters to competition to airshows to movies to Red Bull. That is an interesting career.

We congratulate Nigel on his hard fought win – and wish him the best of luck again next year.

Final Preparation for his Championship Winning Flight 

World Championship (final): 
1. Nigel Lamb (GBR) 62 points, 
2. Hannes Arch (AUT) 53, 
3. Paul Bonhomme (GBR) 51, 
4. Nicolas Ivanoff (FRA) 42, 
5. Pete McLeod (CAN) 38, 
6. Matt Hall (AUS) 33, 
7. Matthias Dolderer (GER) 21, 
8. Martin Sonka (CZE) 18, 
9. Yoshihide Muroya (JPN) 10, 
10. Kirby Chambliss (USA) 7, 
11. Peter Besenyei (HUN) 6, 
12. Michael Goulian (USA) 3;

2015 Race Calendar

1. Abu Dhabi (13/14 February)
2. Chiba, Japan (16/17 May)
3. Sochi, Russia* (30 /31 May)
4. Budapest, Hungary (4/5 July)
5. Ascot, Great Britain (15/16 August)
6. Spielberg, Austria (5/6 September)
7. Fort Worth, Texas, United States (26/27 September)
8. Las Vegas, Nevada, United States (17/18 October)

*To be confirmed

Photos used by Permission from Red Bull Air Races