Red Bull Air Race 2017

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Red Bull Air Race 2017 - San Diego

The Red Bull Air Race World Championship makes a welcome return to San Diego on the 15-16 April 2017. Set on the Pacific coast of California the location provides the perfect backdrop for a race.

3rd & 7 37yd

Bergér controls final Free Practice session | Red Bull Air Race
Red Bull Air RaceThe German pilot picks up even more speed before Qualifying

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 9:29:03 PM

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OFFICIAL CHALLENGER FREE PRACTICE 3 RESULTS:
BERGER 1:08.240
COLEMAN 1:11.112
VIGNES 1:11.412
CHIANG 1:13.267
CZEPIELA 1:14.118
GENEVEY 1:15.140

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 9:42:04 PM

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Let's take a look at what the pilots will be tackling this weekend... three-time World Champion Paul Bonhomme flies us through the San Diego track and gives us the lowdown on how to win here in California

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 9:51:57 PM

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by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 9:56:41 PM

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We're still underway with the Master Class Free Practice 3 session, which means Challenger Qualifying will start at around 1515 local time (around 10 minutes from now)... we'll share the results from FP3 as soon as the last pilot has flown. It's Martin Sonka and his smoke is ON so not long to wait :)

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:04:01 PM

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A quick recap from FP1 and 2: Martin Sonka made an impressive start to race two of the 2017 season by being the only pilot to break under the 59-second time barrier in Friday's Free Practice sessions.

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:04:57 PM

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by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:05:32 PM

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by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:17:45 PM

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CHALLENGER QUALIFYING IS UNDERWAY!
STARTLIST:
COLEMAN
CZEPIELA
VIGNES
CHIANG
BERGER
GENEVEY

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:18:06 PM

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US pilot Kevin Coleman is first up, and he's making good work of the track

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:19:29 PM

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Track conditions, now wind coming from the West, which will keep the pilots on their toes

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:19:51 PM

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by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:19:59 PM

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Coleman was 2nd in all FP sessions yesterday so consistent to say the least, but unable to keep up with German's Berger

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:21:01 PM

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He's clean through the track and posts 1:09.905!

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:21:15 PM

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Luke Czepiela flies next...

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:23:10 PM

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The Polish pilot hasn't had the best start here in San Diego and was 5th earlier today in FP3

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:23:47 PM

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by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:24:39 PM

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It's a little slow again for Czepiela and he's off the pace, with red on the split times...

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:25:57 PM

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It's clean though and he stops the clock in 1:12.507

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:26:15 PM

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Next to fly, 3rd out of the field of 6, is Baptiste Vignes of France

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:26:38 PM

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The newcomer for 2017 was 3rd in two of the FP sessions, showing a promising start to his progress in the elite sport

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:27:30 PM

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by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:27:45 PM

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It's 1:12.793 for Vignes, putting him in 3rd at the halfway point...

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:28:05 PM

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It will be Kenny Chiang next to fly. The pilot from Hong Kong was one of the youngest ever to fly the Boeing 747 and has already impressed those with a keen eye

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:29:34 PM

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Introduced in 2014, the Challenger Cup has proven to be a solid training ground for a new breed of race pilot to progress through the ranks and graduate to the Master Class

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:33:03 PM

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Each pilot flies the Extra 330LX, which is a two-seat raceplane. It isn't as fast as those used in the Master Class but is a trusty steed for learning the ropes out in the track

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:34:55 PM

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By competing on a level playing field, it allows the Challenger pilots to really focus on their skill in the track without the additional need for managing a dedicated race team or considering a modification programme

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:36:13 PM

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And Chiang is cleared into the track! Here we go...

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:38:27 PM

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by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:38:49 PM

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Coleman is currently in the lead at the halfway point... and Chiang's split times are not quite fast enough to push the American from the top spot...

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:39:19 PM

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It's a solid run... and then it's the buzzer for the first time in this session!

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:39:35 PM

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That's 2s for incorrect level at Gate 10, which leaves him with 1:13.275 on the clock

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:40:03 PM

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Chiang moves into 4th place, with Berger and Genevey to fly

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:40:21 PM

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by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:40:40 PM

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We've heard the wind has increased to 10-12kts so the last two pilots will possibly feel that in the track

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:41:09 PM

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And Berger is up now! Can he make it a full house today by dominating this Qualifying session? He's off to a great start and already ahead of Coleman's time at the first split!

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:41:48 PM

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by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:42:40 PM

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- Pylon Hit!
This is easy work for the German – the defending 2016 champion – green all the way... and then it's a pylon hit at Gate 14!

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:42:44 PM

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That wasn't part of the plan :(

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:42:51 PM

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It's 1:12.984 for Berger with 3s included for the pylon hit... although his net time wouldn't have been quite as fast as Coleman's

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:43:36 PM

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by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:43:38 PM

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Last to fly is Hungary's Daniel Genevey – new to the race for 2017 and flying his first race here in San Diego

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:44:53 PM

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And here he goes! It's just about getting through the track cleanly, so Genevey has nothing to prove at this stage

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:47:07 PM

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by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:47:43 PM

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He's red on the split times as expected and it's a respectable debut for the newcomer, even if that time is well off the pace

by Race Reporter 4/15/2017 10:47:48 PM

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