ABU DHABI // Crowds gathered along the Corniche to watch in awe as daredevil pilots battled it out for the best qualifying places in this year’s Red Bull Air Race.
There was a major upset yesterday when Nigel Lamb, last year’s champion, slipped to last place in the standings, while last year’s runner-up, Paul Bonhomme, topped the leader board with the fastest time of 57 seconds around the course.
In total, 14 pilots from around the world flew their single-engined stunt planes ahead of the main event today.
“Unlike many other games, air race is not a young man’s sport,” said Mr Lamb. “One needs to have experience and nerves. It’s about mental speed, along with good physical health.”
The 58-year-old said he had been looking forward to tough competition in this year’s contest, adding that it was only a matter of time before an Emirati pilot took part in the air race.
“We see many Emirati spectators. However, a lot must be done to make it a proper sport in the country. Tracks need to be established for local and international training,” said the Briton, who has been a display pilot for more than 30 years and earned his wings with the Rhodesian air force.
Mr Bonhomme said he was hoping to go one better in 2015 after a successful qualifying.
“I always found the Abu Dhabi track interesting and beautiful,” said the 50-year-old.
Mr Bonhomme is the most successful pilot in the history of the Red Bull Air Race and the only person to have taken part in all 58 races since 2003.
He has a record 15 victories and 39 podium finishes and works as a commercial airline captain flying Boeing 747s when not competing in races.
Jim DiMatteo, race director of the Red Bull Air Race, said he was delighted to be back in the capital of the UAE.
“We are very happy to kick off the Red Bull Air Race World Championship here in Abu Dhabi once again,” he said. “We’ve already had seven races in a beautiful city that has always opened its arms wide to accommodate. We can’t think of a better start to the season, especially since Abu Dhabi offers one of the most challenging races due to the hot temperatures at capricious winds that can shift from one moment to the next, blowing in from a completely different direction.”
“Those sudden changes make the track even more difficult for the pilots when they’re flying at 370 kph,” said Mr DiMatteo.
Residents who gathered along the Corniche said they were thrilled to watch the planes roaring overhead despite expecting it to be just another typical afternoon.
“We loved these beautiful planes dancing in the sky,” said Abbas Ahmed from Bangladesh. “It is a such a visual delight. I will now make sure to follow the air race from now on.”
akhaishgi@thenational.ae
