The United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi officially welcomed the Red Bull Air Race World Championship for a sixth consecutive year on Tuesday ahead of the first race of the 2010 season on 26/27 March.
Mr. Ahmed Hussein, Deputy Director General of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and Mrs Hala Badri, EVP Brand and Communications of Du Telecom met with the 15 race pilots and Red Bull Air Race CEO Bernd Loidl for a welcome ceremony attended by local media at the race airport at the Municipality Harbour.
“It is a great honour and privilege for us to open the new race airport here in Abu Dhabi for the first race of the 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championship” said Loidl. “Staging a race of this complexity – transforming a port into a race airport or transforming downtown Abu Dhabi into a spectacular race venue - is only possible through a strong cooperation with the local authorities and our partners who share our vision to build and establish the new dimension of motor sport“.
The race in Abu Dhabi marks the start of the 2010 season. The world's top 15 race pilots will be battling for championship points in eight races on five continents over six months, including a first ever race held in New York in June. The season finale is in September in Lisbon.
“The Red Bull Air Race is part of a calendar of great events in Abu Dhabi - the Volvo Ocean race launched last week and Yas Marina proved last year that it can provide a fantastic venue for the Formula 1 race. We are looking forward to this week’s Red Bull Air Race in Abu Dhabi,” said Mr. Ahmed Hussein, Deputy Director General of the ADTA.
Austrian pilot Hannes Arch formed a partnership with the ADTA last year and won the 2009 season opener here - securing all 13 points up for grabs after also posting the fastest Qualifying time.
“It’s great to be back in Abu Dhabi and for me it feels like a home race,” said Arch who is known as the ‘Flying Falcon’ in Abu Dhabi. “I’m proud to be representing the element of air for the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority. It’s a great country and their support gives me a lot of additional power.”
Also on board as partners in Abu Dhabi this year is Du Telecom. “We are thrilled to be a partner at this year’s Red Bull Air Race and to also support French pilot Nicolas Ivanoff,” said Mrs Hala Badri, from Du.
Abu Dhabi has been a popular fixture on the Red Bull Air Race calendar ever since the World Championship officially began in 2005. The warm temperatures and famous winds which can change direction abruptly during the course of the day make it one of the most challenging tracks and a favourite for the veterans.
The opening round of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship takes place in close partnership with the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council. The picturesque blue skies and dramatic Abu Dhabi shoreline with its towering skyscrapers will provide a spectacular backdrop for the first round of the international motor sports championship which will be one of the Middle East’s most breathtaking sports events of the year.
For more news and content, please visit the press section via www.redbullairrace.com/press
The Red Bull Air Race Press Room is a free-of-charge media service providing news stories, high resolution photographs, clips for TV, web and radio as well as race results and background information about the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.
Comments
Add a comment