New Format to add Challenge to 2015 Red Bull Series

A new race format will present a more challenging path for competitors in the 2015 Red Bull Air Race (RBAR) series.

By expanding the competition to a field of 14 pilots, the race format has been revamped to and will now feature seven head-to-head battles in the opening Round of 14. Then in the Round of 8, the seven winners, plus the fastest loser from the Round of 14 will square off against each other with only the winner of each race will progress to the final round of four to compete for podium places against the clock

In previous seasons, only the first round has been head-to-head knock-out, with the following rounds based on racing for the best times.

"This new format will be a big challenge for the pilots to fly more precisely and better than ever before and we're confident it will make the Red Bull Air Race more exciting and competitive," said Jim DiMatteo, Race Director of the Red Bull Air Race, when talking about the new Master Class set up. "The pilots know that just one little mistake in the Round of 14 or Round of 8 can cost them dearly."

The two new pilots added to the 2015 line-up are Frenchman Francois Le Vot and Spainard Juan Velarde.

Le Vot is a former French Air Force fighter pilot and national aerobatics champion. Velarde is a commercial pilot with Iberia and Spanish national aerobatics champion.

The first RBAR race is in Abu Dhabi 13-14 February.

2015 Red Bull Master Class Line-up