Red Bull Air Race Windsor by In Play! Magazine

Red Bull Pilot Dies In Crash

2010-08-17T22:21:00.003-04:00

CASSARUBIOS, Spain – It is with great sadness that we share the loss of Red Bull Air Race pilot Alejandro (Alex) Maclean, who has died today at the age of 41 following a fatal accident in his native Spain while carrying out aerobatic training for an Air Show. Our thoughts are with his wife Emma and their two children aged 7 and 12.

The entire Red Bull Air Race community and the aerobatic fraternity have lost one of their most vibrant and passionate characters. Alex’s significant contribution to the growth and development of the Red Bull Air Race over the past six years and to aviation in general will be remembered forever by those who shared this journey with him.

The former captain of the Spanish national aerobatic team began his Red Bull Air Race career in 2003 and was a key figure in the evolution of the championship. A fiercely competitive streak led the Spaniard to accelerate the development of the MXS-R with fellow pilot Nigel Lamb and Alex kept his longstanding technician busy with an aggressive modification schedule.

Alejandro (Alex) Maclean during practice on Friday June 4, 2010 Windsor, Ontario.

Photo by Jack Rosenberg / In Play! Magazine

Known at the Race Airport for his expressive Latino temperament, Alex was a deeply sensitive and emotionally charged character who fought against obvious frustration when results weren’t forthcoming. Despite this, he continued to push forward with his loyal team and finished the 2010 season on a philosophical note, taking personal responsibility for a disappointing result.

While he worked his race team hard and expected absolute commitment, Alex treated his technician Jesús Cañadilla, team coordinator Carola Bisci and coach Eneko Larumbe like family. He showed a deep respect for those who supported him and placed great value on building genuine friendships. Definitely not one to suffer fools gladly, the articulate and considered pilot often made journalists work hard for their quotes but his level of introspection and self-awareness added a fascinating dimension to any interview. His colourful character was a welcome contrast to many of the more reserved pilots.

Outside the Red Bull Air Race, Alex was a dedicated ambassador for flying and was recently named as the 2010 recipient of the prestigious Paul Tissandier Diploma for his contribution to sporting aviation. Fascinated by the idea of flight since childhood, he started flying ultralight aircraft before moving on to high performance aerobatic planes and was a celebrated competition pilot on the European stage before embarking upon the next chapter of his career with the Red Bull Air Race.

Read In Play! Magazine Here

Video of Hall's Near Miss on the Detroit River

2010-08-09T13:55:00.000-04:00

Read In Play! Magazine Here

RED BULL CONFIRMS BREAK FOR 2011 SEASON

2010-07-29T10:07:00.003-04:00

Matt Hall hits the Detroit River during Saturday Qualifiying of the Red Bull Air Race Championship.

Photo by Jack Rosenberg/In Play! Magazine

Red Bull Air Race GmbH confirmed that for the future success and development of the sport, the World Championship will take a one-year break in 2011.

The organization will use this opportunity to fast track the technological advancements currently in the making which would further improve the already high levels of safety.

There is a need to revise the main organization and commercial areas to realize the full potential of the sport including the development and reinforcement of strong host city partnerships which would secure a long term race calendar.

Statement from Mayor Francis
The Windsor region has enjoyed the benefits of hosting Red Bull Air Races for the past three years, and during that time we have recognized the importance it has had in bringing us to the world stage.

It has been a signature sporting event that has been a huge boost to our tourism industry and a welcomed economic generator for the region.

It is with regret that the 2011 series of races have been cancelled, but we look forward to welcoming them back when racing resumes.

Our relationships with the organizers and pilots are solid and they have appreciated our partnership over the years.

We continue to seek out other opportunities and are active in our pursuit to promote the area and attract a diversity of international events. Windsor has a proven track record of hosting and partnering with premier world class events and we look forward to continuing to do so in the future including the 2013 International Children’s Summer Games

We thank the leaders of Red Bull Air Race for choosing us in the past to be included in their flight schedule, and when they are ready to resume their world wide race circuit we look forward to welcoming them back.

Read In Play! Magazine Here

Last minute team shake-up for Canadian pilot Pete McLeod brings valuable experience to the mix

2010-06-03T16:40:00.002-04:00

WINDSOR, Ontario – Canada’s Pete McLeod has replaced his technician for the team’s home round in Windsor this weekend on 5 and 6 June. Hoping to build on a strong start to the 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championship campaign, the pilot has enlisted the help of Michael Goulian’s former assistant tech, Brad Huelsman.

The speedy restructure came about just days before the home race in Canada at what is a particularly high stress time for the team, already under the spotlight and with high expectations weighing heavily ahead of the race. McLeod says he and former technician Ted Reynolds parted company on good terms but admits that the decision had to be taken promptly to ensure a replacement could be found in time.

Bryn Lennon / Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race

Pete McLeod of Canada chats with his technician Brad Huelsman as they prepare for the first Red Bull Air Race Training day at the Race Airport on June 3, 2010 in Windsor, Canada.

“I’ve got to look at not only my own goals but also I have a team that relies on me to make decisions,” says McLeod. “We’ve got to make sure we have our best foot forward all the time as a unit. In terms of development and reaching my future goals I’ve never been one to waste time.”

Mutual respect

With almost 30 years of technical experience to tap into and a career in the Air Force to solidify his credentials, Huelsman is an experienced pilot who has built his own aircraft back in the US. He has also supported Michael Goulian in recent years as team coordinator before deciding to better exploit his mechanical know-how within the team in the role of assistant tech in 2010. Switching teams for the Canada race, Huelsman is enthusiastic about working with the young Canadian pilot and says he has a particular affinity with the country so it’s a fitting race to make the swap.

“I’m what you call a Can-Am, or Canadian-American,” says Huelsman, who spent stints living in Toronto and regularly travels from his current home in Dayton, Ohio, back to the Canadian city. “So I’ve got a lot of history right here in Windsor, halfway between the two places I’ve lived.”

Joining the up and coming team – McLeod is currently in 5th place overall in the championship – is an exciting prospect for Huelsman, who has quickly made himself at home in the new hangar. Used to working with Goulian, who is considered a true professional of the aviation world, Huelsman can already see the potential in McLeod and has no concerns about joining the young team.

“Pete grew up around aircraft so he knows machines,” says Huelsman, with the kind of authority you’d expect from someone with such extensive experience. “I’ve seen him fly in airshows outside of the Red Bull Air Race environment and he’s an excellent pilot. He knows the balance between pushing beyond risk and doing it in a calculated fashion; Pete’s got a really good handle on that. He’s moved up rapidly and there don’t seem to be any flat spots in his progression. It’s very exciting.”

Read In Play! Magazine Here

Bonhomme Top in Windsor Training, McLeod Experiments on Track

2010-06-03T15:51:00.004-04:00

WINDSOR, Ontario - Paul Bonhomme topped the time sheets in the first training session on Thursday ahead of the weekend’s Red Bull Air Race World Championship in Windsor with Hannes Arch of Austria and Australia’s Matt Hall close behind on the challenging track set up on the Detroit River. Canada’s Pete McLeod used his time in the track to experiment in search of the best racing lines.

Bonhomme, the defending champion who won the Windsor race a year ago, set the pace on a windy overcast morning with a time of 1:11.97 on the track that straddles the Canada-U.S. border. Arch, the hottest pilot in the championship at the moment with wins in the last two races, was just 0.72 behind even though he picked up a 1-second penalty. Hall was 1.89 behind in 1:13.86.

Dean Mouhtaropoulos / Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race

Paul Bonhomme of Great Britain in action on the Detroit River

during the Red Bull Air Race Training day on June 3, 2010 in Windsor, Canada.

The pilots generally use the first training sessions to get an initial look at the track, test the racing lines and get a feel for the wind conditions. They only use the timings in the first session as a rough indication of where they stand before opening up the throttle in the Friday training sessions that precede the Qualifying on Saturday.

“The track is interesting and keeps you busy,” Bonhomme said, noting the wind on the track was much stronger than expected. “I’m pleased with the time. We’re near the top, which is good. The wind is definitely going to be a factor.” Bonhomme was able to adjust to changes in the winds last year to get atop the podium but knows that Arch, Hall and Britain’s Nigel Lamb (4th on Thursday) -- as well as the two Americans Michael Goulian (5th) and Kirby Chambliss (7th) -- are all capable of winning the race, the fourth of the eight-stop 2010 season.

“It’s a lot harder out there in the track than expected,” said Arch, the 2008 champion. “My flying was quite rough. I was just trying to figure out how to get through the track. I had two pylon hits. On one I wasn’t really focused. The other was like ‘I don’t know how I can do it’. It was just a concentration thing. So I think I’ve found my lines. I just need to smooth them out and work on getting faster in the track.”

The Windsor race marks the midway point of the 2010 season with Bonhomme (31 championship points) clinging to a shrinking over Lamb and the hard-charging Arch. The next stop is in two weeks in New York.

McLeod, hoping for a top four finish, used the training session to experiment on difficult 03 June 2010 sections and was one of four pilots who did not complete a run due to disqualification. “It’s an interesting track, a tight technical track,” McLeod said after his first run. “I’m looking forward to some more training time in the track so I can clean it up for the race.

Last year there was so much energy from the crowd for me to race here and I’m looking forward to another best result in Windsor. A top four would be great.”

Read In Play! Magazine Here

Red Bull Air Race Race Format 2010 - PRINTABLE

2010-06-03T11:00:00.000-04:00

Read In Play! Magazine Here

Red Bull Air Gate Rules and Penalties

2010-06-03T10:51:00.000-04:00

Read In Play! Magazine Here

Windsor Mayor welcomes pilots at Red Bull Air Race Airport

2010-06-02T17:10:00.001-04:00

Red Bull Air Race Windsor kicks off with official airport

opening as excitement builds for race weekend

Bryn Lennon / Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race

Mayor of Windsor, Eddie Francis speaks to the media at the Race Airport during
the Red Bull Air Race Official Opening on June 2, 2010 in Windsor, Canada.

WINDSOR, Ontario – June 2, 2010 – Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis welcomed the Red Bull Air Race pilots back to southern Ontario on Wednesday at a ceremony formally opening Red Bull Air Race Airport. This opening marks the official kick off to the fourth round of the eight-race 2010 season which takes place this weekend on a now-famous track over the Detroit River straddling the Canada-U.S. border.

“This is perhaps the best part of my job, once a year I get to stand here and declare ‘Welcome to Red Bull City’,” Francis told the pilots and journalists at a press conference at the Race Airport. “It’s the opportunity for us as a community to come together and turn our attention to one of the most spectacular sporting events that we’ve come to be a part of. We too feel like part of a family. The people of Windsor are really excited to be part of another great event.”

Defending champion Paul Bonhomme of Britain said he was looking forward to another thrilling battle on the difficult track between Windsor and Detroit after he mastered a nerve-wracking shift in winds to win here on race day a year ago. Northern Ontario native and first-ever Canadian pilot Pete McLeod, who is fifth in the championship this year, said he will be looking for a career-best result in front of hundreds of thousands of fans from his home country after getting his best finish as a rookie last year in Windsor. “I’m just stoked to be racing again on my home soil. There’s so much positive energy here in Windsor,” said McLeod. “I’m hoping to have a good race. I like the track, it’s a challenge – tight and technical.”

Red Bull Air Race CEO Bernd Loidl said he and the pilots have been looking forward to returning to Windsor after being overwhelmed by the enthusiasm at last year’s race, witnessed by 215,000 spectators on both the Windsor and Detroit sides of the river. “We arrived here as guests last year but we left as friends and true partners,” he said. “It was clear from the start that this location was special. We experienced something really outstanding, a great warm welcome and tremendous cooperation from not only the authorities involved but also from the people of Windsor and from Ontario and from far beyond.”

Loidl said the tremendous warmth and enthusiasm for the race in Windsor is a telling illustration of Red Bull Air Race’s rapid development. “It is the fastest growing motorsport in the world and we’ll prove that once again in Windsor. We’re looking forward to a great race weekend.”

Bonhomme leads the championship with 31 points but compatriot Nigel Lamb (28 points) and Hannes Arch of Austria (27 points) are hot on his heels. Lamb and Arch said they were feeling confident for the race in Windsor. Bonhomme, who has been on the podium for a record-breaking 10 straight races, said it would be another tight battle. “We love Windsor because everyone looks after us so well,” he said. “We’re looking forward to another great race. The wind can cause a bit of drama here. Last year we trained all week with an easterly wind and then on race day it turned westerly. It should be an interesting race.”

Read In Play! Magazine Here

Red Bull Air Gates Are Up on the Detroit River

2010-06-02T13:15:00.000-04:00

Gates are up and running. Wednesday June 3, 2010

Read In Play! Magazine Here

Battle tightens at the top as Red Bull Air Race heads to Windsor, Ontario

2010-05-29T18:01:00.001-04:00

Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race

Red Bull Air Race Press Launch, Pilots on Abbey Road, New York

WINDSOR, Ontario – As the Red Bull Air Race World Championship prepares to land in the Canadian city of Windsor, Ontario on 5/6 June for the fourth round of 2010 season, all eyes are on the widening field of title contenders. In the most closely fought battle in the sport’s history, at least five teams are in the running, including local hero Pete McLeod, the youngest pilot in the championship. The Canadian, who currently sits in 5th place, is looking forward to his home race over the Detroit River after dazzling the crowd of 300,000 last year as a rookie with a brilliant performance under pressure.

Britain’s Paul Bonhomme, on 31 points, is clinging to a shrinking lead at the top of a pack of challengers that includes compatriot Nigel Lamb (28 points), Austria’s Hannes Arch (27 points), Australia’s Matt Hall (22 points) and Pete McLeod (19 points).

Bonhomme, who turned his flagging 2009 season around with a victory in Windsor, will be looking for the same to happen this year after back-to-back third place finishes at the last two races in Perth and Rio de Janeiro. “It is most definitely a three horse race…or possibly four?” said Bonhomme. “No one is going to have an easy year. We’re still at the top of the table. That might change, but compare us to any other team and we’re not doing that badly. I’m now itching with excitement to get into the track in Windsor to try and win a race.”

McLeod has happy memories from last year’s race in Windsor, where despite competing in a relatively slow and heavy plane, got his season-best result to the delight of the home crowd. It was an impressive performance by McLeod on a race track over the Detroit River made challenging by changing winds. McLeod, who has gained the respect of veteran pilots with his flying prowess on difficult tracks, shrugged off the pressure of racing at home that has so often caused other top pilots problems. With a greatly improved plane and a year’s experience under his belt, the Canadian ace is looking forward to using the local crowd to his advantage in Windsor again this year.

“I’m stoked about coming back to Canada for the next race,” said McLeod, who learned how to fly float planes in Canada’s rugged north and aims to be the world champion by the time he is 30 years old. “l feel overall I have an advantage in Windsor. We’re close to home, and the support of the Canadian fans really motivates the team and me. As for the track, it was one of my favourites last season – very tight and unforgiving.”

Windsor is also looking forward to hosting the Red Bull Air Race for the second straight year. Ontario’s Minister of Finance Dwight Duncan has been full of praise for the race, which he said gave the region an important economic boost last year.

The race in Windsor marks the half-way point of the 2010 season. The next stop is New York on June 19/20. The world championship then shifts to Europe for the final three races in Germany, Hungary and Portugal.

Read In Play! Magazine Here

Red Bull Air Race Windsor 2010 - Race Preview

2010-05-29T17:35:00.000-04:00

Read In Play! Magazine Here

Arch declared winner after rain hits Rio Red Bull Air Race

2010-05-09T18:35:00.002-04:00

RIO DE JANEIRO - Hannes Arch of Austria was declared the winner of the Red Bull Air Race in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday when adverse weather conditions made it impossible to continue the racing during the Top 12 round and the results were then based on Saturday’s Qualifying sessions. The Austrian had won the Qualifying point. Britain’s Nigel Lamb was awarded second place based on coming second in Qualifying while championship leader Paul Bonhomme was forced to settle with a disappointing third place in the third race of the 2010 season.

Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race/Red Bull Photofiles

Hannes Arch of Austria celebrates his victory in the Red Bull Air Race Day
on May 9, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Nigel Lamb of Great Britain came 2nd
and Paul Bonhomme of Great Britain his 3rd podium.

Heavy rain and winds swept across Rio, drenching the 250,000 spectators, during the Top 12 round that initially forced a delay of the high-speed, low-altitude flying in front of the city’s Flamengo Beach with pilots in the air called back to the Race Airport. The pilots were all hoping conditions would improve but organisers eventually decided not to continue with the Top 12 due to the inclement weather and unpromising forecast. It was only the second time that this has happened in the 46-race history of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship. The last time was in Longleat, UK in 2006 where Bonhomme was declared the winner.

Arch’s second-consecutive victory also cuts Bonhomme’s championship lead to three points. Bonhomme is on 31 points after collecting nine points for his second-consecutive third place finish while Lamb is second on 28 points for his two second-place finishes in three races this year and Arch on 27 points after collecting a maximum 13 points in Rio – 12 for the victory and one bonus point for winning the Qualifying on Saturday in front of 400,000 Brazilian fans. Arch also won the last race in Perth.

“It’s a good feeling to make up some points on Bonhomme,” said Arch, the 2008 world champion who was clearly delighted to take home 25 of a maximum 26 points from the last two races after stumbling with an 11th place (2 points) in the opening race in Abu Dhabi. “It was an easy way to win today but I’m happy to be able to catch up in the championship. It’s motivating me for the season. Abu Dhabi is history now. I’m obviously thrilled to get the win today but I would have liked to have given the spectators in Rio a great race.”

Lamb, off to the best start of his career, was pleased to narrow Bonhomme’s lead: “It’s a really good result but deep down it’s a bit of an anti-climax for all of us,” he said. “I’m kind of disappointed. At least I got 10 points for second, which isn’t bad.”

09 May 2010

Bonhomme and the other pilots had all known that rain was in the forecast for Sunday even though it had been bright and sunny all week. They all put their best efforts into winning Qualifying on Saturday because they knew there was a risk that the race could not be completed. Bonhomme, who got his very first racing victory in Rio in 2007, was disappointed with his Qualifying run. Accustomed to flying in bad weather in Britain, he was hoping to get the chance to make amends for his Qualifying defeat on Sunday as light drizzle made the flying challenging during the Wild Card session and the first half of the Top 12.

“Hey, it’s a net loss of four points in Rio so that’s a shame,” said Bonhomme with a smile. The 2009 champion dismissed suggestions that the pressure from a resurgent Arch and vastly improved Lamb was causing him problems. “No, not at all,” Bonhomme said. “It’s a long season. We’ve got another five races so it should be good fun.”

Race Results

The next Red Bull Air Race takes place in Windsor, Canada on June 5/6.

Note: According to the Official Rules & Regulations of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship

(Part A, Clause 7): In the case of bad weather, the Race Committee may decide to cancel

flying sessions on Race Day. In the case where there are no valid flying sessions the rankings

will be based on the results of Qualifying.

Read In Play! Magazine Here

Arch beats Lamb in Red Bull Air Race Rio Qualifying in front of record crowd

2010-05-08T15:49:00.000-04:00

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Hannes Arch of Austria came from behind to beat Nigel Lamb of

Britain in dramatic fashion on Saturday to win one vital championship point with the fastest

Qualifying time at the Red Bull Air Race in Rio de Janeiro in front of a record qualifying-day

crowd of 400,000. Britain’s Paul Bonhomme, who still leads the overall championship, was a

disappointing third on the high-speed, low-altitude 5,634-metre race track set up in front of

Rio’s Flamengo Beach.

Hamish Blair / Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race

Pete McLeod of Canada in action during the Red Bull Air
Qualifying Day on May 8, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
McLeod qualified 7th.

Arch, who was in second place behind Lamb after the first of two Qualifying runs ahead of

Sunday’s race, opened the throttle on his second run under brilliant blue skies and tropical

temperatures. Although afternoon sea breezes were slowing down most of the pilots, the

Austrian managed to shave nearly a second off his earlier time to deny Lamb the one point

awarded to the fastest qualifier. Arch stopped the clock in 1:20.44, 0.73 ahead of Lamb and

1.18 ahead of Bonhomme. The defending champion, Bonhomme, still leads the championship

with 22 points with Lamb (18) in second and Arch (15) alone in third.

An even bigger crowd of up to one million is expected for the race on Sunday. There was a

crowd of one million at the first race here in 2007.

Hamish Blair / Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race

Fans watch Kirby Chambliss of USA in action during the Red Bull
Air Qualifying Day on May 8, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Chambliss qualified 5th,

“I'm pleased I was able to raise my game today. We need every point to catch up with Paul.

The engine works great and my team is working great. I'm really motivated for tomorrow,” said

Arch.

“I enjoyed that,” said Lamb, who is off to the best year of his career with 18 points from the

first two races. “I love the set up of the aircraft and just loved being on the track today. Of

course I’m disappointed not to get the championship point. But it was a very positive day.”

Australia’s Matt Hall took a promising fourth place in Qualifying, just 1.54 behind Arch, while

American Kirby Chambliss (5th), Frenchman Nicolas Ivanoff (6th), Canada’s Pete McLeod

(7th) and American Michael Goulian (8th) were all within striking range of a podium on

Sunday with less than 3.5 seconds separating the leaders. The enormous home crowd

cheered heartily for Michael Goulian, who was flying in Brazilian colours after signing a

sponsorship agreement with Brazilian energy company Petrobras.

08 May 2010

It was a disappointing afternoon in Brazil for Russia’s Sergey Rakhmanin (11th), Hungary’s

Peter Besenyei (12th), Japan’s Yoshi Muroya (13th) and Martin Sonka of the Czech Republic

(14th). They failed to qualify for spots in Sunday’s final but will get a second chance to win the

final two spots in the Wild Card competition early on Sunday.

The weekend’s race in Rio is the second consecutive race this year in the Southern

Hemisphere, the first time in Red Bull Air Race history that there have been back-to-back

races south of the equator and a reflection of the growing popularity of the high-speed, low

altitude sport around the world. Brazilian rookie Adilson Kindlemann will only be a spectator

after his plane was wrecked in an accident in Perth.

Race Day starts at 10:00am local time on Sunday.

Read In Play! Magazine Here

In Play! and Biz X Exclusive Interview with Red Bull Pilot Kirby Chambliss

2010-04-26T10:13:00.000-04:00

In-Play! and Biz X Magazine’s May Issues feature two separate interviews and the Red Bull Air Races are on the cover of the may issue of In Play!

We got to interview American pilot Kirby Chambliss and Canadian pilot Pete McLeod for the upcoming issues, but we didn’t have enough space to include the entire interviews with either pilot.

Today and tomorrow we are giving fans of In-Play! and Biz X Magazine a look at portions of those interviews we couldn’t stuff into the issue!

Kirby Chambliss is up first…

On the tour’s popularity with kids…

“I think its something that generally everybody is able to enjoy. It’s a race; it’s very easy to understand. We’ve always said hey, make sure that a seven year old kid could understand because if you start to go away from that then you’re going to loss it. It’s racing, kids love races. I know as a kid I raced motorcross, it’s pretty easy to understand speed, easy to understand hey I got to beat the clock and its competition.”

Why more races can help a pilots chances in the cumulative standings…

“From a points standpoint more races are better, because then it’s going to average things out. Even if you had a problem in one race it’s not going to be catastrophic as far as the points go.”

His thoughts on Canadian pilot Pete McLeod…

“He’s starting to figure things out as a team owner and where he needs to put his resources into. I expect really good things from Pete.”

Why it’s difficult for rookie pilots, like Pete, to compete in their first season…

“Just being a good pilot that’s not going to get you wins. You got to have at least three things and I like to say four to have a winning team. You got to have a winning pilot, fast airplane, a good crew and a little bit of luck really helps out too. I think Pete is a smart guy and he’s putting those things into place, your first year, your rookie year, you’re just trying to figure things out.”

On racing in New York, New York this season…

“People are so excited about it, it could be the coolest race ever with the Statue of Liberty and everything.”

Be sure to check out the new issues of both In Play! and Biz X Magazines to read the complete interviews with both Pilots.

Read In Play! Magazine Here
Read Biz X Magazine Here

Arch Wins Red Bull Air Race in Perth, Hall Comes Second.

2010-04-18T11:35:00.000-04:00

Dean Mouhtaropoulos / Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race

(L-R) Matt Hall of Australia celebrates his 2nd, Hannes Arch of Austria his 1st and
Paul Bonhomme of Great Britain his 3rd place on the podium after the Red Bull Air Race Day
on April 18, 2010 in Perth, Australia.

PERTH - Hannes Arch of Austria won the Red Bull Air Race on Sunday with Matt Hall of Australia getting a career-best second place in front of an enormous crowd of 140,000 watching from the banks of the Swan River in Perth, Australia. Championship leader Paul Bonhomme of Great Britain took third place.

Bonhomme retains the overall championship lead with 22 points after the first two races of the 2010 season. Nigel Lamb of Britain, who was fourth on Sunday, is in second place on 18 points. Arch jumps into third place overall with 14 points and Hall moves up to fourth, also on 14 points.

It was a thrill-filled final under brilliant blue skies with Hall starting out the Final 4 by laying down a fabulous time of 1:26.51, his best of the week. It was all the more astonishing considering the huge expectations from the home crowd, the biggest at a sporting event in Australia this year.

Lamb had been posting strong times all week but couldn't top Hall's time. Arch, starting third, moved into the lead with a time of 1:26.03. Bonhomme was flying well and poised to win the race but stumbled in the fourth and final sector to fall to third place with a time of 1:26.82.

Another success story in Perth was Pete McLeod, who took a strong fifth place. It was also a career-best for the Canadian ace who had struggled at the bottom of the pack in his rookie season last year with a comparatively slow plane. Nicolas Ivanoff of France, who won the Perth race in 2007, was sixth. Matthias Dolderer of Germany was seventh.

It was a disappointing race for Americans Kirby Chambliss and Michael Goulian. Chambliss, who clinched his 2006 world championship here in Perth, was back in eighth place and Goulian, who was fourth in the season-opener last month in Abu Dhabi, could do no better than 11th place when he sliced open a pylon in the Top 12 round.

Arch's triumph in Perth helped erase memories of his disappointing 11th place in Abu Dhabi last month due to a disqualification in the Top 12. The 12 points Arch collected for the win in Perth, after a mere 2 in Abu Dhabi, puts the 2008 championship winner back into the title hunt. The Austrian was seen flashing a wide smile in his cockpit when the times were read out to the four finalists by the Race Director.

“This is definitely the way we're going forward,” said Arch. “Everything starts with vision and this was my vision. I was really struggling during the week. Should I attack or should I just slow down? I'm very pleased.”

“Fantastic result,” said a clearly delighted Matt Hall, whose best result was third place in Porto last year as a rookie. “I've been aiming for that for over a year. The Perth race was always going to be my focus. This is what I’ve been looking forward to since I started in the Red Bull Air Race – a great performance in front of my home crowd in Australia.”

Bonhomme, who has now been on the podium for nine straight races going back to the 2008 season, was clearly disappointed. “Third place wasn't planned but we didn't get fourth so that's good,” said Bonhomme. “I've not really looked at the times so I don't know what I did wrong. But it sounds like I relaxed a bit in the track.”

The next race takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 8/9 May.

Canadian Pilot Pete McLeod finished in a respectable 5th place as he did in Abu Daibi. McLeod now sits fifth overall in the standings after two races.

Read In Play! Magazine Here

Bonhomme Wins Qualifing in Perth, McLeod sits 9 of 14.

2010-04-17T11:52:00.001-04:00

Dean Mouhtaropoulos / Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race

Paul Bonhomme of Great Britain in action during the Red Bull Air Race
Qualifying on April 17, 2010 in Perth, Australia.

PERTH - Britain's Paul Bonhomme extended his lead in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship by winning 1 point for posting the fastest Qualifying time on Saturday in Perth in front of 65,000 spectators. The defending champion, who also won the race the last time it was held in Perth in 2008, moved three points clear of compatriot Nigel Lamb and now has 13 points as a reward for clocking the fastest Qualifying time.

Hannes Arch of Austria was a close second under bright blue Western Australian skies and balmy temperatures while Nigel Lamb was third. Australia’s Matt Hall had two strong qualifying runs to the cheers of the big home crowd but ended up in seventh place. Bonhomme's winning time of 1:25.07 was 0.13 ahead of Arch and 1.61 ahead of Lamb, who is second overall in the championship on 10 points. Arch, the 2008 champion, is back in 11th with 2 points. Hall’s time was a competitive 1:29.95.

A crowd of more than 100,000 is expected for the race on Sunday, making the Red Bull Air Race the biggest sporting event in Australia.

There was plenty of high drama right up to the final Qualifying run. Lamb, who had posted the fastest time in the final training session on Friday, had been fractions of a second behind Bonhomme in his second qualifying run on Saturday. Yet Lamb, who was second in the first race behind Bonhomme in Abu Dhabi, had a brilliant second lap and was more than a second ahead of Bonhomme at the finish line. Unfortunately he was booked with a late 2-second penalty for incorrect knife edge flying through one gate that dropped him back to third place.

Bonhomme admitted he was pleased to bag the extra point today. He said he believes he knows where Lamb was quicker - Lamb had a tighter line in the 270-degree turn between the twin knife edge gates. "It was interesting that I let it out a bit on the twin knife edge turns and Nigel made up time there.

But it was really Lamb that was on a high after only just missing out with the fastest net time of the day. "I'm just about to call my son Daniel at home in the UK - it's his birthday and this will be a good present!" said Lamb of his continued strong performances in Perth. A last minute penalty pushed him to third behind Arch.

“It’s a very technical track,” said Arch. “I had a pretty fast net time and more or less the right line. It’s not so much about the plane but also about the pilot out there.”

17 April 2010

American Kirby Chambliss, the 2006 champion, moved up to fourth place with a great run in Qualifying 2. He was followed by Nicolas Ivanoff of France in fifth, American Michael Goulian in sixth and Hall in seventh. Germany's Matthias Dolderer (8), Pete McLeod of Canada (9) and Sergey Rakhmanin of Russia (10) also qualified for spots in Sunday’s Top 12. Hungary's Peter Besenyei (11), Spain's Alejandro Maclean (12), Japan's Yoshi Muroya (13) and Martin Sonka of the Czech Republic (14) will get a second chance to qualify for Sunday's race in the Wild Card round. The two fastest in the Wild Card will join the fastest 10 from Saturday's Qualifying for the Top 12. The fastest 8 pilots advance to the Super 8 and the fastest 4 then move on to the Final 4.

Matt Hall has said he feels the weight of Australia on his shoulders - and wants to represent his country well in his first home race. He called it the most important race of his career.

Pete McLeod (9th) continued to impress today with what could have been a great first run except for a pylon hit. He ended with a 1:30 and won’t have to fly in the Wild Card. “Yeah, there are still penalties and on the last run I held myself back a bit but still had a fast time. The aim was to not get a penalty. I felt real good in the first run, but just boxed myself in on one corner of a pylon.

Sebastian Marko/Red Bull Photofiles

Canadian pilot Pete McLeod flies through the Air Gates during training
at the Red Bull Air Race in Perth, Australia.

I’ve got to fly penalty free. Y’know we’ve got a good shot to do something in the Super 8 maybe so we’ll hope for wind tomorrow,” joked McLeod, confident that tricky conditions could scupper other team’s chances. “It’s promising to see those sector times and I’m pretty happy with the lines I’m flying. I’m pretty much straightlining most of the gates, which risks penalties but it’s fast. We know we’re losing time on the second lap and although the airplane is much faster this year, it’s still not the fastest one out there. I’m still having fun out there and not hurting for more speed.”

Read In Play! Magazine Here

Red Bull Airrace Rookie Pilot Crashes in Perth Australia.

2010-04-15T18:24:00.003-04:00

Cameron Spencer / Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race

Rescue crew rush to the aid of Adilson Kindlemann after he crashes into the Swan River during the Red Bull Air Race Training day on April 15, 2010 in Perth, Australia.The Brazilian was pulled out of the water within minutes and was taken to hospital. He is in good condition, Red Bull Air Race CEO Bernd Loidl said at a press conference.

Thursday April, 15. PERTH, Australia – After what has been a dramatic day in the history of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship, several of the pilots expressed relief for the safe rescue of Brazilian rookie Adilson Kindlemann but also admitted it was reassuring to see the rescue teams working so quickly to retrieve the pilot and plane.

An official statement issued by race organisers explained that Kindlemann had suffered only minor injuries akin to whiplash and praised the prompt and efficient rescue efforts by both the jet ski divers and those aboard the rescue boats. The pilot was pulled from the upturned MXSR race plane, which was floating in the Swan River, in under a minute.

The official statement read: “While manoeuvring his MXS-R race plane, approaching gate three in the middle of the race track, Kindlemann impacted the water with his wings level and tail first. Specially trained emergency response teams rushed to the scene and rescued Kindlemann as the aircraft floated in the water, in less than one minute. He was then transported to the Royal Perth Hospital.”

Once Kindlemann had been assessed at the hospital, the other pilots were able to breathe a sigh of relief as they heard that the 2010 newcomer was going to be OK. One team member admitted it was a nerve-wracking time as they awaited fresh information about the state of the pilot, who has already made an impact at the Race Airport with his lively personality. "I was in the holding area when the accident took place but I did not see how it happened,” said Russian pilot Sergey Rakhmanin, who was due to fly after Kindlemann in the first training session this morning. “I am happy to hear that Adilson is safe and received only minor injuries.”

Equally Japanese pilot Yoshi Muroya expressed his relief that Kindlemann was in good health after the incident, which occurred at 11.50am local time in Perth. "The fantastic response by the specially trained emergency crews has underlined the value of the emphasis on safety in the Red Bull Air Race,” said Muroya. “Both the emergency response team and the pilots have trained for this kind of incident and I confidently look forward to more practice in the track tomorrow and some exciting racing in the weekend." British pilot Nigel Lamb, who was sitting in third position after today’s disrupted first training session also offered a useful insight into the lifesaving efforts by the rescue teams. Lamb also

15 April 2010

noted Kindlemann’s quick thinking in the lead up to the moment when the MXS-R hit the water. “I’ve seen very little footage but the most important thing is that if you have any kind of unwanted impact with the surface, you want to land at the slowest speed possible with your wings level,” explained Lamb. “From what I saw in the videos, he was not at slow speed but he did manage to get the wings level. I am amazed at how quick the divers were there and how unscathed he is. You’d think at that speed you’d be very poorly placed… but it all turned out very positively.”

Today saw what has always been a theoretical situation turn to reality. Seeing the rescue teams in action in the first ever ‘real life’ emergency operation has helped to confirm just how effective the safety measures the organisation has put into place are. “It’s one thing for your engine to fail and you have do a controlled landing on water but now I’ve seen someone do that at twice the speed you imagine and he came out alright,” admits Lamb. “That’s very confidence inspiring. Today has really given me even more confidence about operations over water.”

After Brazilian Red Bull Air Race rookie Adilson Kindlemann escaped his potentially fatal crash into the Swan River in Perth, Australia, without serious injury, we look at the meticulous safety training the Red Bull Air Race pilots and support teams go through ahead of the competition.

Read In Play! Magazine Here

Race day Photos March 27, 2010 - Red Bull Air Race, Abu Dhabi

2010-03-27T15:09:00.001-04:00

Hamish Blair / Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race

Pete McLeod of Canada prepares to fly during the Red Bull Air Race day on
March 27, 2010 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Julian Finney / Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race

Paul Bonhomme of Great Britain celebrates his 1st place after the Red Bull Air Race day

on March 27, 2010 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Mike Hewitt / Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race

Paul Bonhomme of Great Britain in action during the Red Bull Air Race day

on March 27, 2010 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Julian Finney / Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race

Nigel Lamb of Great Britain celebrates his 2nd, Paul Bonhomme of Great Britain his

1st and Peter Besenyei of Hungary his 3rd place on the podium after the Red Bull Air Race
day on March 27, 2010 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Read In Play! Magazine Here

Bonhomme Prevails in Abu Dhabi Heat to Win Red Bull Air Race Season Opener

2010-03-27T12:39:00.000-04:00

CANANDIAN PILOT PETE MCLEOD PLACES CAREER HIGH 5TH SPOT

ABU DHABI - Defending champion Paul Bonhomme of Britain won the first Red Bull Air Race of the 2010 season in Abu Dhabi on Saturday with a hard-fought victory in scorching heat, finishing just ahead of compatriot Nigel Lamb (2nd) and Hungary’s Peter Besenyei (3rd) in an eventful battle over the turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf. Austria’s Hannes Arch finished a disappointing 11th after posting the fastest Qualifying time on Friday.

Arch, who had won the Abu Dhabi race last year and was the favourite going in after winning the one Qualifying point on Friday, was disqualified in the Top 12 round for dangerous flying. Many other front-runners were also knocked out early on a day of upsets due to disqualifications or technical malfunctions. With temperatures rising above 40 degrees and the strong desert winds suddenly shifting direction just hours before the race, the 2010 season opener turned into one of the most dramatic races in the six-year history of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.

Michael Goulian took a strong fourth place but the American’s day nevertheless ended in disappointment as well when he was unable to fly in the final due to technical problems. Canada’s Pete McLeod, a rookie last year, got a career-best fifth place. Australia’s Matt Hall was flying well and was poised for a spot on the podium but was also forced to retire ahead of the Super 8 round with a technical problem that dropped him to eighth place.

“It’s a great start to the new year,” said Bonhomme, who took 12 points and picked up his 12th career victory. Bonhomme, like fellow Red Bull Air Race veterans Lamb and Besenyei, was a master of the difficult weather conditions and managed to stay calm despite some extraordinary challenges. Bonhomme’s winning time was 1:14.06. Lamb was 0.86 seconds behind and Besenyei was 7.12 behind.

“It’s fascinating what we’ve seen today”, said Bonhomme. “The wind changed direction and it sorts everyone out. The temperature was also a factor. To keep your concentration up in these conditions is quite a task. I don’t think it’s a coincidence (that only veterans were on the podium). Experience helps on days like today. You have to keep an eye on what happens and play the tactics just right.”

Lamb and Besenyei, who both struggled somewhat in fair weather training earlier in the week, rose to the occasion in the heat and treacherous winds. Visibility was also hampered by desert winds filled with sand.

“Today was a day of race tactics and strategy,” said Lamb. The Team Breitling pilot added that he hoped to make a habit of getting on the podium after taking an identical second place in Barcelona. “One would be deluded to think it’s going to be easy. There are at least 12 pilots 27 March 2010 this year who have been putting in times that are within a few seconds of each other. It’s going to be a very interesting season.”

Arch of Team Abu Dhabi was clearly upset with the disqualification, which stunned thousands Of the local fans watching along the Corniche. “I don't have a clue about what the stewards saw,” he said. “It was a normal racing situation.”

The first race of the 2010 season was also a learning experience for the two rookies. Martin Sonka of the Czech Republic, who celebrated his 32nd birthday with a strong performance in Qualifying on Friday, picked up 20 penalty points on Saturday and ended up 13th. Brazil’s Adilson Kindlemann had an even more eventful race, picking up 28 penalty points including 12 for hitting two Air Gates.

The next stop of the 8-race season takes place in Perth, Western Australia on April 17/18. For more news and content, please visit the press section via the link at: http://www.redbullairrace.com/.

Read In Play! Magazine Here

Arch wins first point of 2010 in Red Bull Air Race Abu Dhabi Qualifying

2010-03-26T16:14:00.001-04:00

ABU DHABI – Austria’s Hannes Arch won the first point of the 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championship by posting the fastest time in Qualifying on Friday ahead of Saturday’s season opener in Abu Dhabi. Defending champion Paul Bonhomme of Britain made a thrilling dash to try to beat Arch and snatch the one point away from his rival but hit an Air Gate at the end of his run and ended up a disappointing third. Britain’s Nigel Lamb got second while Australia’s Matt Hall took fourth.

Arch, the 2008 world champion, was delighted to get back on top after Bonhomme narrowly beat him for the 2009 title at the end of last season. On Friday Arch, the Team Abu Dhabi pilot, delighted the Qualifying Day crowd of 45,000 with a superb time of 1:12.78 on the 5.6km long track, 1.55 seconds ahead of Lamb. Bonhomme got third on the strength of his first Qualifying time of 1:14.45, which left him 1.67 behind Arch. After watching Bonhomme slice open the final gate in Q2 from a TV monitor in his hangar, Arch smiled and exchanged high fives with his teammates back in the hangar.

“The secret to winning the point today is that all the effort we put into the plane came together,” said Arch. “The job they did has made a really fast airplane. The problem before was me. I was nervous in the days before Qualifying and I felt the pressure from Paul as he was flying really fast and never gave me any margin. I really had to give everything and try to stay calm.”

Arch had posted the fastest times in two of the four training sessions going into Qualifying while Bonhomme had beaten him in the other two sessions, setting the stage for another memorable showdown over the turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf in front of Abu Dhabi’s towering skyline.

Bonhomme, flying last, was 0.12 seconds ahead of Arch at the midway point in the final Qualifying run but lost his lead on the second lap. He would still have have ended up a close second. But instead the British ace slashed open the final Air Gate, picking up a careless sixsecond penalty. It was a day to forget for the normally error-free Bonhomme, who had also picked up a 2-second penalty for incorrect wing level flying through an Air Gate near the very end of his first Qualifying run an hour earlier.

“I wasn’t expecting it,” Bonhomme said of the pylon hit. “About a hundred yards before the Air Gate I realised what was going to happen. I was just trying to save time and went straight for it.”

Lamb, who has introduced striking new winglets that curl up at the end of his wings, was a sensational second on a hot day on the track alongside Abu Dhabi’s Corniche beach. Even though Lamb was only sixth overall last year, he won glory for his Team Breitling on Friday with second place.

26 March 2010
Martin Sonka, a rookie from the Czech Republic, celebrated his 32nd birthday on Friday with
an impressive debut. Sonka took 12th place in his very first race with a time of 1:22.89 –
10.11 seconds behind Arch but just four seconds away from 10th place. Adilson Kindlemann
of Brazil, the second rookie this year, was 14th with a time of 1:38.91 that included 14
seconds in penalties.

Photos of our In Play! friend and Canadian Pilot Pete Mcleod

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - MARCH 22: Byron ‘Ted’ Reynolds and Technician, Rob Hogan, Team Coordinator work on Pete McLeod of Canadas plane in the hangar during the Abu Dhabi Red Bull Air Race Previews on March 22, 2010 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

(Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images for Red Bull) *** Local Caption *** Byron Reynolds; Rob Hogan

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - MARCH 24: Pete McLeod of Canada in action during the Red Bull Air Race 1st training on March 24, 2010 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race)

Welcome to the Red Bull Windsor Blog

2010-03-26T15:02:00.001-04:00

New posts coming shortly.
Thanks for dropping by