Red Bull Air Race 2016: Dolderer ‘confident’ as Lausitzring looms

The Red Bull Air Race heads to Lausitzring, Germany over the weekend of 3-4 September 2016. It is the fifth stop on the eight-leg international circuit that makes up the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.

Overall race leader Matthias Dolderer (DE) will be on hometurf and eyeing the main prize of a championship win. After a good season he is way ahead of his closest rivals – Dolderer has 53.25 points so far compared with Hannes Arch (AUT) in second place with 35. Australia’s Matt Hall is in third with 33.75.

This race will be the first Red Bull Air Race to be held in Germany for six years, and coincides with a “spectacular” season for Dolderer. “Dolderer has been on the podium in four out of the five races so far and collected his first two career wins in the process,” organisers said in the lead-up to the race.

Dolderer said the home-crowd advantage would be all his: “It doesn't matter what the track is like, all 14 pilots have to fly the same thing. The support from the crowd will be a huge motivation."

He added: "I only have two wins, but finishing second [At Ascot, UK] was a little bit of a disappointment … We know we are fast, I have a good team and everything is working right now – so we're pretty confident.”

The racing in Germany will also feature a rescheduled Challenger Class leg. Torrential rain in Budapest earlier in the summer meant the Challenger Cup was cancelled – instead it will be flown on Saturday 3 September.

Organisers said: "Due to the cancellation of the Challenger Cup in Budapest on 17 July, the race is rescheduled for Saturday 3 September. This will ensure that all of the pilots have an equal opportunity to win points and progress to the Challenger Cup Final in Las Vegas on 15 - 16 October."

The Red Bull Air Race is broadcast live online here: www.redbullairrace.com/live