Spectacular scenes as Air Racing stars take off in Abu Dhabi

Spectacular scenes as Air Racing stars take off in Abu Dhabi posted: 07/02/2019

Martin Sonka (CZE), Matt Hall (AUS) and Michael Goulian (USA)

Some of the biggest names in the 2019 Red Bull Air Race World Championship took a breathtaking flight over Abu Dhabi, UAE, which will host the sport's season opener for a record 12th consecutive time this weekend.

Abu Dhabi (UAE) - Defending titleholder Martin Sonka (CZE), 2018 runner-up Matt Hall (AUS) and third overall Michael Goulian (USA) piloted their single-seat raceplanes past the renowned architecture of the city's skyline and got a stunning view of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque andMangrove National Park. Then French pilot Nicolas Ivanoff, who has raced in all the Abu Dhabi stops and won in 2016, went aloft to see the cityscape in the light of the lowering sun.

Martin Sonka (CZE), Matt Hall (AUS) and Michael Goulian (USA)

Altogether, 14 of the world's best Air Racing pilots will reignite their rivalries when Qualifying kicks off at the Abu Dhabi Corniche on Friday, 8 February, followed by the climax of Race Day on Saturday, 9 February 2019.

Catch the drama as the World Championship gets underway in Abu Dhabi. For ticket information and all the latest news on the Red Bull Air Race, visit www.redbullairrace.com.

RED BULL AIR RACE 2019 CALENDAR

8-9 February: Abu Dhabi, UAE

TBA: Europe

15-16 June: Kazan, Russia

13-14 July: Budapest, Hungary

7-8 September: Chiba, Japan

TBA: Asia

19-20 October: Indianapolis, USA

8-9 November: Saudi Arabia

ABOUT RED BULL AIR RACE

The Red Bull Air Race World Championship is an aerial motorsport series that demands a combination of speed, precision and skill. Using the fastest, most agile, high performance race planes, pilots compete in iconic locations over water and land. The high speed, low altitude and extreme manoeuvrability required make it only accessible to the worlds most exceptional pilots.

Flying just metres from the ground, 14 Master Class pilots race against the clock whilst reaching speeds of up to 370 km/h, requiring a combination of precision and skill unmatched in the world of aviation. Pilots must be in peak physical condition as they endure forces up to 12G while navigating the technical racetracks made up of air-filled pylons.

The Air Race was developed in 2003 and is accredited by the F d ration A ronautique Internationale (FAI), with more than 90 races completed across five continents. As the most advanced aerial challenge in existence, competing in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship is the highest accolade for elite pilots.

A Challenger Cup feeder series was introduced in 2014 with the goal of facilitating the development of the unique skills required for the Master Class for the next generation of pilots.

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