The Red Bull Air Race remains in the U.S. for the third stop of the 2008 season in Detroit, Michigan on May 31 and June 1. The ‘Motor City’ is a brand new addition to the World Series calendar and the city, steeped in automotive and aviation history with an abundance of sports fans, will make an ideal location for the race where twelve of the world’s best pilots, including three Americans, will introduce the Midwest to a new dimension in motorsport.
A challenging 3.8 mile-long race track will be positioned over the Detroit River, one of the world’s most trafficked international shipping lanes. This will be the first time that a Red Bull Air Race is staged in two countries at the same time - between Detroit and the Canadian city of Windsor, Ontario. Spectators will enjoy close up views of all the action along downtown Detroit's five-mile long, spectacular riverfront.
After a phenomenal race under the Californian sunshine in San Diego earlier this month, which drew a crowd of 120,000 fans over two days, the competition has started to really tighten at the top. Britain’s Paul Bonhomme currently leads the pack with 18 points after victories in the first two races and defending champion, American Mike Mangold is hot on his heels with 15 points followed closely by 2007 rookie, Austrian Hannes Arch with 14 points.
“It is getting closer,” said Bonhomme. “It’s going to make the rest of the year interesting.”
Detroit is recognised as being home to the automotive industry but less known perhaps are its connections to aviation. The city is birthplace and hometown of renowned aviator Charles Lindbergh - pilot of the first nonstop Transatlantic flight from New York to Paris made in the single seat, single engine aircraft Spirit of St. Louis on May 20-21, 1927.
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is thrilled that Detroit will host a Red Bull Air Race and said, “We thank you, Red Bull Air Race, for bringing the World Series right here to Detroit. We said this to the Super Bowl, to the NCAA, the best race that you will have in your entire series will be the race in the city of Detroit.”
Qualifying takes place on Saturday, May 31 followed by Race Day on Sunday, June 1. 41,000 race weekend tickets were sold out in a heartbeat.
