Brits under the spotlight for Red Bull Air Race Qualifying in Perth

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Brits under the spotlight for Red Bull Air Race Qualifying in Perth

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Brits under the spotlight for Red Bull Air Race Qualifying in Perth

by Kirsten Corrigan, Apr 17, 2010

The Race Airport is bathed in sunshine and teams are looking unusually relaxed as we gear up for today’s Qualifying in Perth. Top of the time sheets from yesterday, British pilot Nigel Lamb said he was feeling well rested and looking forward to the flying over the Swan River. Hot on his heels, defending champ and fellow Brit Paul Bonhomme remained a threat in the battle to pick up the single point available today.

“Today will be pretty interesting and we could have the potential for the wind swapping scenario, if that happens,” said Lamb, who posted a blinding 1:27 time yesterday. “My strategy, like everyone else’s, is to put down a solid time in the first run and then go for the point in the second run. I feel there’s a chance of getting the point so I’ll definitely be going for it. Your strategy for the second run is always dependent on the result of your first run.”

Bonhomme played down the importance of securing the single point up for grabs for the fastest time in Qualifying, but had clearly critiqued his flying in training to enable him to identify a section of the track where he felt he could save more than a second.

“We’ll use a bit more power today and improve our race line in a couple of places,” said Bonhomme, who admitted being off the pace yesterday. “It’s not just Hannes that we’ve got to look out for… there’s Ivanoff, Lamb and Pete McLeod is doing very well. At this stage of the season, of course it’s good to get the point, but there’s no point losing sleep over it. All that’ll do is ruin Sunday.”

Lamb was comfortable being in pole position today and said he wasn’t feeling any additional pressure despite knowing that there were several pilots capable of stealing the point. “I’ve got a plan that I would like to execute and there are two versions. You have to have a third plan so if you screw up in the first one and get a penalty and drop down, you have to have a slightly different plan. You either do your ‘absolute go for it’ or you have to go to Plan C, which is just being sure of getting a good time. Yesterday was training and people are still trying different lines. When people clean it up today and get rid of the penalties then it’ll be pretty close racing.”