PYLONS & PLANES

Heading to the Red Bull Air Race? Here’s what you need to know…

The Red Bull Air Race returns to the capital for the 2017 season opener with 22 daredevil pilots looking for glory

Ten years since it first took over Abu Dhabi’s skyline, the Red Bull Air Race returns to the capital this month, bringing with it 22 thrill-seeking pilots and a host of obstacles guaranteed to test their planes and their limits. Kicking off the 2017 season with the competition’s milestone 75th race, race organisers say this year’s event promises to be bigger than ever, with 14 teams looking to dethrone reigning champion Matthias Dolderer, who took the podium in Abu Dhabi at the start of the 2016 contest and never looked back. With eight races across five continents scheduled to take place before the winner is crowned in Las Vegas in October, here’s everything you need to make the most of race weekend.

February 10 and 11

Corniche, Abu Dhabi, Dhs399 to Dhs3,800. Taxi: Abu Dhabi Corniche. redbullairrace.com

You’re returning as World Champion. How determined are you to defend that title?

We’ll try to continue our rhythm from 2016 and to have as much fun, but while the fun is a huge part of success, it’s not only about that. It’s about hard work and making sacrifices. No one factor alone is enough. We’ll do everything we can to defend the title.

You were said to be slightly inconsistent at times in the past. What changed in your flying to make your first title such a convincing win?

Whoever is not World Champion is more inconsistent than the others. That’s normal. We worked very hard over the winter and the most important thing in 2016 was my consistency – I was on the podium six times, three wins, three seconds. The whole package is important, and that worked out very well in 2016 in terms of my team, my race plane, support from family, friends, partners and my own performance. We had a clear goal, stayed very focused all season and winning the first title was the absolute highlight. It was an amazing and indescribable feeling. A dream come true.

What is it about the race that keeps you coming back?

This will be my sixth year of air racing, but flying has been my passion and inspiration from the very first moment. I’ve spent my whole life in hangars, on airfields and in the cockpit, so it doesn’t take much to motivate me to keep doing what I love the most.

Describe the experience of competing. How difficult is the Red Bull Air Race course?

Competing is fighting to be the best, compared to others. The race courses got much easier over the past years, but however easy a track is, it is very difficult to be the fastest, because every millisecond on the track decides between winning or losing. It is amazing fun to fly there, but a huge challenge to do it to perfection.

How does Abu Dhabi compare to the other courses on the circuit and what does it offer as a season opener?

There’s always so much excitement around the first race, the teams are eager for the challenge and in Abu Dhabi, we’ve got a fantastic place to take it on. Abu Dhabi is a very glamorous event, with spectators lining the Corniche – and high society at the Sky Lounge taking in the high-speed, low-altitude action. The track design is very similar to the one in San Diego, rather easy from the technical side, but again, it’s about who can be the fastest, no matter how easy the track is. We are really looking forward to it.

For the uninitiated, describe the race in two words.

Breathtaking. Attractive.