Historic first for Lake Balaton: Red Bull Air Race takes off on 13-14 July

The largest lake in Central Europe will host big aerial action when the Red Bull Air Race takes off for the first time at Lake Balaton, Hungary on 13-14 July 2019. As the third race of the season kicks off, 14 of the planet’s best Air Racing pilots will dazzle holiday-makers in the resort town of Zamárdi on their quest to earn points for the World Championship. A double-header race for the feeder Challenger Class will add to the excitement of the 13th edition of the Red Bull Air Race in Hungary.



Zamárdi, Hungary
The Red Bull Air Race first flew in Hungary in its inaugural 2003 season, and the country is known as the cradle of the sport. Butnever before have the raceplanes navigated a track over Lake Balaton, which is renowned for its inviting beaches and surrounding vineyards.

On the heels of one of Europe’s largest open-air music festivals, aviation fans will converge on Zamárdi to witness the World Championship’s last stop on the continent before the race teams head to the season finale in Japan.

Master Class Qualifying at Lake Balaton will take off on Saturday, 13 July, where the pilots will battle for pole position and the top three finishers will earn World Championship points.

Favourites at Lake Balaton include Yoshihide “Yoshi” Muroya (JPN), the 2017 World Champion who is undefeated this season, as well as Martin Šonka (CZE), the defending titleholder who holds second overall. In third place on the leaderboard, Matt Hall (AUS) is on a mission, having been runner-up three times without ever clinching the championship.

Young guns Mika Brageot (FRA) and Ben Murphy (GBR) are poised to shake up the standings. And, German fans will be eager to learn if 2016 World Champion Matthias Dolderer will fly after sitting out the previous race in Russia with damage to his raceplane after a pylon hit.

Also on Saturday, the Challenger Class will take off for the first of two races at Lake Balaton, with the second on Sunday. The second competition category of the Red Bull Air Race includes 12 pilots this season, each participating in three races. Those racing at Lake Balaton include Mélanie Astles (FRA), Dario Costa(ITA), Daniel Ryfa (SWE), Baptiste Vignes (FRA), Patrick Davidson (RSA), Patrick Strasser (AUT), reigning Challenger Cup Champion Luke Czepiela (POL), and, making his Red Bull Air Race debut, Vito Wyprächtiger, the first Swiss pilot to compete in the sport.

Race Day for the Master Class at Lake Balaton is Sunday, 14 July, featuring three critical rounds through the 25-metre high Air Gates to determine who will stand on the top step of the race podium.
Accredited by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the Red Bull Air Race World Championship demands speed, precision and skill as the Master Class pilots reach speeds of 370 km/h and endure forces up to 12G. The Red Bull Air Race will not continue past 2019, and fans have been riveted to each race in the condensed, four-stop season.

Be there for the first Red Bull Air Race at Lake Balaton, Hungary on 13-14 July.