portugal lands its first red bull air race
The Red Bull Air Race World Series will touch down in Porto on 1st September for the eighth race of the season and the first to take place in Portugal. Thirteen of the world’s best pilots will compete for vital ranking points as they race through a slalom course, just meters above the water, at speeds reaching 400 km/h and coping with forces of up to 10G.
The race will take place over the Douro River, between Ribeira and Vila Nova de Gaia with the track positioned between Dom Luis I Bridge and Arrábida Bridge. The striking bridges and picturesque Ribeira waterfront will provide a spectacular backdrop for what promises to be an exciting race.
With only three stops left in the series, the competition is starting to really heat up and the pilots face a challenging course. The Porto Air Race will feature one of the narrowest and fastest tracks of the season. The pilots will start and finish the race by flying underneath the Dom Luis I Bridge. After passing under the bridge, they will fly straight through the first gate, having to adjust their speed carefully in order to pass through the slalom gates correctly and then go on to complete two laps of the race track. Fast turns and precise flying will be the name of the game in Porto.
After his third win of the 10-race season at the last race in Budapest in front of 500,000 spectators, Mike Mangold (USA/Team Cobra) now leads the series, with 36 points, ahead of Paul Bonhomme (GBR/Team Matador) with 35 points, who slips back to second after leading for most of the season. This is a decisive phase of the competition and the race is on to determine the 2007 Red Bull Air Race World Champion. “Porto will play a big role in the battle for the World Championship title. It’s a crucial race,” explained Hungarian pilot Peter Besenyei (Team Red Bull), who is currently placed third in the World Series standings with 27 points.
The qualifying rounds will be held on Friday 31st August and the race finals, which include the elimination rounds, quarter finals, semi-finals and final, will take place on Saturday 1st September.
