Red Bull Air Race World Championship is won by Yoshihide Muroya of Japan. He took the prize with a track record 1 minute, 3.026 seconds in the final round. For fans and everyone watching it's a stunning site to see these planes zip past, he he certainly did in time to take the prize!
Martin Sonka of the Czech Republic had a four lead - key word being had here, as the result show. Sonka flew with such skill and speed himself, yet Muroya was able to edge ahead just enough in the end. This is the world’s most prestigious aerobatic racing series, and all of these pilot's hard earned their wings!
“Let’s go have the biggest party tonight,” Muroya said. “Fans, teams and families were pushing me really hard,” Muroya said. “I can’t believe I went that fast. I can’t believe it, but we were aiming to be World Champion.”
2016 World Champion and Indianapolis winner Matthias Dolderer of Germany finished second Sunday at 1:05.546, a staggering 2.520 seconds behind Muroya’s magical run in an ultra-competitive series in which victory sometimes is decided by thousandths of a second.
The other two contenders for the World Championship entering this event, Pete McLeod of Canada and Kirby Chambliss of the United States, were eliminated in the opening Round of 14.
In this thrilling air race everything can change in a heart beat, and it does as we found in a dramatic Round of 14. McLeod’s took a three-second penalty for hitting the Air Gate at the finish line and his chance at a title disappeared.
Chambliss’ experienced his own error the took away his chances for a third career title when he hit an Air Gate on the final lap, incurring a three-second penalty. “My team performed great,” Chambliss said. “My plane was running good. It was all on me. I made a mistake out there. I was trying to be super-aggressive to put down a fast time.”
Later, cam the battle between Sonka and Muroya, in which both were fighting for the World Championships. In this race timing is everything, and both pilots faced incurred their own penalties, yet managed to move ahead. Timing monitors keep pilots on edge.
Muroya passed Mikael Brageot of France by 2.569 seconds in the Round of 8, grabbing one of the Final 4 spots. Sonka earned a boarding pass to the Final 4 by beating top qualifier Matt Hall of Australia in the Round of 8.
The stage was set for the final run, and Yoshihide Muroya of Japan flew his way to the Red Bull Air Race World Championship!
There is another pilot, who made history at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - Melanie Astles of France is the winner of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship Challenger Class!
This is the world’s most prestigious aerobatic racing series, and all of these pilot's have earned their wings!
Get Your Tickets To Upcoming Race At The Indianapolis Motor Speedway
For current race news, events, and to order race tickets visit www.ims.com/tickets, call the Indianapolis Motor Speedway ticket office at 317-492-6700 or 800-822-INDY, or visit the ticket office on the first floor of the IMS Administration Building at 4790 W. 16th St. in Indianapolis. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ET Monday-Friday.
Photo Credits: IMS/Chris Owens
