FEATURE

France tops the podium at the first Red Bull Air Race of the season

By Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI)

France’s Nicolas Ivanoff blazed through the pylons to victory in a hotly contested competition at the Red Bull Air Race in Abu Dhabi today.

Ivanoff's time of 58.550 was barely a tenth of a second faster than Matthias Dolderer of Germany, who was in second place (58.660).

François Le Vot of France, who is beginning only his second season and was ranked 14th in 2015, captured third place with 1:02.281.

The day was packed with shocks: Matt Hall of Australia, who was ranked number one after finishing second overall last year, hit a pylon and failed to advance beyond the opening round for only the third time in his career.

Another top favourite, 2008 World Champion Hannes Arch, gave fans a similar surprise after flying brilliantly through the early rounds only to earn a disqualification in the Final 4 for passing the Safety Line. Arch finishes the race in Abu Dhabi without any points, due to his DQ result.

After the race Ivanoff joked: ”I propose we end the season right now!”

He added: ”Actually, we worked really hard for this in training and I was not stressed coming into the race – but I knew we had to be really careful. I'm very happy for my team and my fans."

In the Challenger Class, pilot Daniel Ryfa of Sweden, the most experienced contender in the six-man Abu Dhabi field, took the first rank.

FAI President John Grubbström was in Abu Dhabi at the Red Bull Air Race and met up with the General Manager of the Red Bull Air Race Erich Wolf.

Grubbström and FAI Executive Director Niels-Christian Levin Hansen were in the United Arab Emirates to attend the first event of the Red Bull Air Race 2016 season.

Grubbström said: “We are extremely pleased that we are involved. It’s a win-win for the FAI and Red Bull Air Race.

“Red Bull Air Race have such a good aviation background, and we are pleased to be associated with a first class brand … Most air sports are adrenalin driven, like most Red Bull activities, so it’s a good fit.”

Wolf welcomed the FAI President: “The FAI is our partner, and this partnership is important for us.”

Levin Hansen, also said the fit between the FAI and Red Bull Air Race was “a natural marriage”.

“You see the passion transmitted to the audience through the Red Bull media platform. It is a passion we share.”

The Red Bull Air Race World Championship now moves on to Spielberg in Austria for its second race of the season, 22-24 April 2016.

For more information www.fai.org/events/red-bull-air-race