After first round and launching round has taken off under the skies of Abu Dhabi, the second leg of the 2006 Red Bull Air Race World Series flies into Barcelona, Spain on Saturday 6th May. Eleven of the world’s best pilots will race through a unique obstacle course in the sky, at speeds reaching more than 400kph, as they battle it out in a bid to be crowned world champion.
This is the first time an Air Race has set foot on Spanish soil and it’s the perfect place to host the competition. Bogatell beach, situated close to the Port Olimpic Marina will be the venue for the event, with the action taking place over the sparkling Mediterranean. A specially created race track will be positioned on the sea yet still close enough to the waters edge to allow spectators unprecedented views from the shore.
Skill, stamina and precision are crucial in the Red Bull Air Race. Pilots fly close to the ground, at high speeds on an extremely tight course, while negotiating 19m high obstacles known as ‘Air Gates’. It’s a tough race that exerts the highest demands on flying ability and human endurance not least because both pilot and plane are constantly subjected to acceleration forces which can reach up to 10G. Only the most skilled and experienced pilots in the world are eligible to take part. There is no room for error because any mistakes incur penalty points which are then added to the pilot’s time. With eight races still left, they are each striving to gain vital ranking points for a chance to win the Series.
American Kirby Chambliss is currently leading, having won the first race of the season last month in Abu Dhabi. He is followed by fellow American Mike Mangold, the 2005 Red Bull Air Race World Series Champion, and Peter Besenyei from Hungary. There is likely to be some fierce competition in Barcelona from Spaniard Alejandro Maclean, who was third in both the first and second rounds in Abu Dhabi, achieving an overall 4th place position after gaining penalty points. Now that the race is taking place in his native country, with a local crowd cheering him on, he may have the home advantage. One thing is for certain, the competition is set to heat up under the Spanish skies!
Red Bull Air Race World Series 2006
Results – Race 1, Abu Dhabi 18.3.06
1 Kirby Chambliss USA 3:33,37
2 Mike Mangold USA 3:37,94
3 Peter Besenyei HUN 3:41,72
4 Alejandro Maclean ESP 3:42,25
5 Nicolas Ivanoff FRA 3:49,11
6 Michael Goulian USA 3:49:62
7 Paul Bonhomme GBR 3:49:85
8 Steve Jones GBR 3:51:74
9 Nigel Lamb GBR 3:56:42
10 Frank Versteegh NDL 4:15:61
dq Klaus Schrodt GER disqualified
Race Calendar 2006
Abu Dhabi, UAE 18th March
Barcelona, Spain 6th May
Berlin, Germany 27th May
St Petersburg, Russia 17th June
Istanbul, Turkey 29th July
Budapest, Hungary 20th August
Longleat, UK 2nd September
San Francisco, USA 7th October
Perth, Australia 19th November
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www.redbullairrace.com
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