NEWS

29.09.2008 FIVE YOUNG PILOTS EARN RACE WINGS AT RED BULL AIR RACE QUALIFICATION CAMP

Five young pilots from around the world who successfully completed a week of rigorous training and testing at the Red Bull Air Race Qualification Camp in Spain were awarded the coveted ‘Super Licence’ this weekend, the essential document needed for entry into the race. Australia’s Matt Hall (37), Canada’s Pete McLeod (24), France’s Francois Le Vot (38), Germany’s Matthias Dolderer (38) and Japan’s Yoshihide Muroya (35) all passed the tests with flying colours and were delighted to take home with them their newly acquired ‘licence to fly’. It will be decided at a later date if any or how many rookies from the crop of pilots will get the chance to compete in the 2009 Red Bull Air Race World Championship.

“I knew that the pilots were all at a very high level going into the camp because we’ve been working with them in training for the last year,” said Red Bull Air Race Aviation Director Heinz Moeller after the camp in Casarrubios outside Madrid wrapped up. “But I was truly amazed that so many by far exceeded expectations. We were all positively surprised how concentrated they were, how well they performed in all areas and how well they took the critiques on board. Their skill level is so high that they could all step up into the race without any problem whatsoever. It’s truly an impressive bunch.”

The ‘Super Licence’ is no guarantee that they will participate in next year’s World Championship but it is a foot in the door. “By getting the Super Licence they are on standby and have to be ‘race ready’ within two weeks if required,” Moeller said.

The pilots, who have been preparing for the camp for the last year, had to demonstrate to the judges that they not only have “the right stuff” in the air – the skill to handle the low level aerial track and negotiate the Air Gates – but that they can also deal with all the rigours of being a full-time Red Bull Air Race pilot competing in the global championship. It was indeed often impressive watching as they confidently navigated through the 20-metre high Air Gates with style and skill even though for most it was their first time in a race track.

“It was really an excellent Qualification Camp in Spain,” said Moeller, who was joined by Red Bull Air Race CEO Bernd Loidl, Sales & Marketing Director Adriaan Thierry and Race Director Drew Searle. Also monitoring and critiquing the pilots was Red Bull Air Race “godfather” Peter Besenyei of Hungary and one of the race’s original pilots, Klaus Schrodt of Germany. “We evaluated a number of areas, not only their flying skills and maturity levels but also whether a pilot is perhaps too aggressive and whether they have the capacity to be self-critical," said Moeller. "There were a lot of things to look at.”

Only one pilot, Sami Kontio (36) of Finland, narrowly missed out on the ‘Super Licence’. Moeller said Kontio had been close to getting it as well but he struggled on the final day when the segments of the course they had practiced earlier in the week were all put together.

“The main thing we were looking for is super safe flying and decisions being made at the right instant,” Moeller said. “We felt that Sami needs some more work. He’s an exceptional pilot and an incredible talent. But he knows himself he needs a bit more to get ‘race ready’. It wasn’t an easy decision. He impressed us with his positive attitude and yet he realised himself that he needs a bit more work. He sees it as a fresh challenge to try again next year.”

Kontio, 36, took the setback in stride, saying he was nevertheless undeterred and would try to get the Super Licence again next time around: “I didn’t make it but I gave it my best and I’ll just keep trying. It’s still my dream to get into the race.”

The pilot line-up for the 2009 Red Bull Air Race World Championship will be announced at a later date.