More pilots, a more compact program and a new race format: At six locations in 2009, 15 pilots will fight for seconds, points and the Red Bull Air Race World Championship title. An overview of the upcoming season.
The fifth season in the history of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship will take place over six racing weekends. Already a tradition is the kick-off in Abu Dhabi, this year taking place on April 17 and 18. After that – also as in 2008 – it’s off to San Diego (May 9-10). On June 13 and 14 in Windsor, an auto manufacturing city on the United States’ border, Air Race pilots will conquer Canadian airspace for the first time. Following this are Budapest (August 19-20) and Porto (September 12-13), two well-known locations, before Barcelona celebrates its comeback in the racing calendar with the season finals on October 3 and 4. In 2006 one million spectators watched the Red Bull Air Race in the Catalonian seaport.
Boasting 15 pilots, the 2009 field is bigger than ever before. While two-time winner (Budapest 2006, Porto 2007) Steve Jones (GBR) ends his Red Bull Air Race career, four new rookies from four different continents will stir up the air. Alongside Matthias Dolderer (GER), Yoshihide Muroya (JPN) and Matt Hall (AUS), as the youngest Air Race pilot of all time 24-year-old Canadian Pete McLeod will try to snatch up as many WC points as possible from the established pilots surrounding title-defender Hannes Arch (AUT).
South African pilot Glen Dell has been chosen to compete for the 2nd time and is thrilled to be part of the competition.
Watch out for Glen throughout the competition on www.redbullairrace.com
In 2009, in a new race format, 15 pilots will compete exclusively against the clock. The fastest ten after two rounds on Qualifying Day, where the respective best time counts, will secure themselves a place in the race. The winner of the Qualifying receives one WC point. On Race Day the five slowest in the Qualifyings will compete in the Wild Card session for two further starting places. In the race the fastest eight in the Top 12 contest will get to the Super 8 contest. The four fastest in the Super 8 session qualify for the Final 4 contest, whereby the fastest pilot wins and secures 12 WC points. The second-place winner gets ten points, all others then each receive one point less respectively; the one coming in last isn’t awarded any points at all.
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