Storm at Red Bull Air Race Detroit 2008

Pressure is on for the 12 Red Bull Air Race pilots ahead of a reformatted Qualifying and Race Day in Detroit after windswept training sessions left them with precious little practice on the low-altitude course just a few dozen feet above the Detroit River. Gusting winds meant Saturday's Qualifying session was postponed until Sunday while Friday's training was also cut short by turbulent weather.

Sunday's weather forecast was for calmer winds and rising temperatures of around 80 degrees Fahrenheit at the 3.8-mile long course, which takes the pilots twice across the U.S.-Canadian border for a total of about 13 seconds out of approximately 75 seconds racing time. Due to the limited air time and unscheduled off day on Saturday, some of the World Championship pilots were circumspect ahead of racing.

"We all get pumped before the race and then when we can't go out it is frustrating," said Spaniard Alejandro Maclean, who has been battling with his new MXS plane and has hardly had a clean run in Detroit, the third stop on the 10-leg Red Bull Air Race World Championship tour. "The problem is now that we have just one go and that is it. With a new plane, it's not good for me but that is what it is. We will see."

Due to the weather on Saturday, Race Day has been reformatted and now comprises one Qualifying session with all 12 pilots, followed directly by the Semi-Finals, Third Place Fly-Off and Finals to determine the winner. Briton Paul Bonhomme, undefeated with wins in Abu Dhabi and San Diego, is looking for a third straight victory in Detroit that would extend his three-point lead over last year's championship winner, Mike Mangold of the United States.

http://redbullairrace.com

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• red
• bull
• air
• race
• heavy
• detroit
• 2008
• weather
• wind
• storm
• crosswind
• landing
• rbar08

[ptscao]

i was there!..it was funny watchin that blue pylon cruisin down the river

[55098]

that was way too windy.

[vtecintegra9]

as a auto racing fan like F1, this is truly amazing racing. Great show, great event, great action.