Red Bull Air Race Ascot

Red Bull Air Race Ascot

Red Bull Air Race Ascot

Red Bull is associated with high-class events about as much as Katie Price is mentioned as a fine example of good manners in Debrett’s. Ascot, however, the opposite. What a strange occurrence, then, that the two should come together. Freed from the spivs and gangsters that infest it with such regularity in modern times, Ascot came alive with a heady mix of youths in snapbacks and commercial pilots on their busman’s holidays.
Although it might have been unthinkable sacrilege to use Ascot’s hallowed turf as a landing strip, I thought it was quite a good idea; it also made me think about a possible site for the south eastern airport. Who needs Boris Island? The head to heads, decided by qualifying on Saturday, meant for some really interesting racing over the twisty course, taking in not only Ascot Racecourse, but also some of the microcosm of English countryside surrounding it as well. The Air Race takes place in some wonderful locations – images of the planes flying underneath Budapest’s Chain Bridge are particular highlights – but none are as charming as Ascot’s. Paul Bonhomme’ Air Race Legend and ‘I don’t know if they paint the grass, but it’s just so much greener than everywhere else!’
In true Ascot style, fizz was everywhere to be seen; it was, however, of a slightly less expensive and more Austrian nature. But Red Bull does come in more flavours than champagne, and it has a sugar free option, so it’s swings and roundabouts really (I managed rise above the more obvious ‘horses for courses pun' which I’m quite proud of).
The racing was as exciting as any horse race, however – and significantly more complex. Over the course of just over a minute, the pilots must navigate two chicanes – taken vertically – six gates – taken horizontally – and three huge 10G turns. Plus, there are more penalties on offer than a semi-final against Germany (that’s a football reference, so my friends tell me). Local Paul Bonhomme faced over against arch-rival Hannes Arch (no pun intended), and elder statesmen Nigel Lamb, from Britain, and Kirby Chambliss, from America, also promised to be a decent scrap – luckily, nobody was left wanting. Both British pilots came through into the round of 8, Bonhomme as fastest loser, Lamb scraping through after a poor run thanks to an even worse performance by Chambliss. Home advantage does not mean much in the Air Race – Paul again. ‘I’ve flown over this track just as many times as the other pilots. We joke in the air race that because of the lack of practice in your home track and all the interest it’s actually probably a disadvantage.’
The final eight still didn’t let up with drama, however. Hannes Arch, up yet again against Bonhomme, failed to get his engine started, meaning automatic qualification for the Brit into the final four. Matt Hall, placed in second in the Championship, Japanese pilot Yoshihide Muroya and a man with the perfect Bond villain name, Nicholas Ivanoff, of France, were his final opponents. It was if it was meant to be; Bonhomme continued in the fashion he had been all weekend, performing an impeccable run and dominating his opponents.
There are three races left in the Air Race championship– Spielberg, Forth Worth and finally Las Vegas. Bonhomme heads into them with a slender lead but in fine form. It’s hard not to root for a man who describes flying as ‘actually really easy. The only people who will tell you otherwise are pilots in the pub who think they’re more important than they are.’