Britain’s Nigel Lamb will have his work cut out for him when the 2015 Red Bull Air Race World Championship kicks off in Abu Dhabi on February 13/14. The reigning world champion will be pushed to the limits by the 2008 world champion Hannes Arch (AUT), who finished second overall last year and the two-time world champion Paul Bonhomme (GBR), who won last year’s season opener in Abu Dhabi and was third overall in 2014.

At a press conference launching the Red Bull Air Race World Championship from the UAE capital, Faisal Al Sheikh, Director, Events Bureau of the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority said: “Whether it be land, sea or air, we in Abu Dhabi have a strong affiliation with motorsports and the Red Bull Air Race allows us to again show our ability to stage major events that thrill visitors and residents alike.

“This race is a key component of Abu Dhabi’s thriving events calendar which now spans not only great sporting events, but also cultural, arts and entertainment scenes as well. It brings heightened impetus to a very active first quarter for the emirate and gives us a fantastic opportunity to show the beauty of our stunning Corniche.”

In what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive fields in the history of the world’s fastest motorsports series, Lamb will also be trying to stay on top of the expanded roster of 14 pilots in the high-speed, low-altitude sport. There were five different winners in the eight races last season as the gaps between victory and defeat dwindled to their closest ever, just a mere thousands of a second separating some heats and nine of the 12 pilots made it onto the podium at least once.

“It’s going to be a very exciting and competitive year,” said Lamb, who was fifth in last year’s Abu Dhabi race and second in 2010. Two-time world champion Paul Bonhomme (GBR), who has won three of the previous seven Abu Dhabi stops is already preparing for another win in Abu Dhabi. “I’m excited to race again and we love Abu Dhabi as it’s ‘part of the furniture’ of the Red Bull Air Race.” Hot on their heels will be Nicolas Ivanoff (FRA), Pete McLeod (CAN), Matt Hall (AUS), Matthias Dolderer (GER), Martin Sonka (CZE) and Yoshi Muroya (JPN) – all of whom won podium places in 2014. Former Abu Dhabi winners Peter Besenyei (HUN), who won in 2005 and 2007, and Kirby Chambliss (USA), who won Abu Dhabi in 2006 will also be back. Rounding out the field are Michael Goulian (USA) and two newcomers, Francois Le Vot (FRA) and Juan Velarde (ESP), who achieved promotion from the last year’s inaugural Challenger Cup.

When asked about his goals for this year’s season opening race, Pete McLeod, who placed third in his Red Bull Air Race debut in Abu Dhabi in 2014 said: “Of course the aim is now always to win for me but there are a lot of variables at the first race. In the end if I’m not challenging to be on the podium then I will have lots of work to ahead of me for the second race. I like the Abu Dhabi track. It’s fast with great flow and high G – rewarding a combination of smooth and aggressive flying. This is my kind of race track!”

“We can’t think of a better start to the season, especially that Abu Dhabi is one of the most challenging races due to the hot temperatures at capricious winds, that can shift from one moment to the next, blowing in from a completely different direction. Those sudden changes make the track even more difficult for the pilots when they’re flying through it at 370 km/h” said Jim DiMatteo, the Race Director of the Red Bull Air Race.

DiMatteo also talked the attendees through the changes in the format of the race saying: “We are convinced that the Red Bull Air Race World Championship will be even more exciting this season. We added two pilots to the field. Francois LeVot from France and Juan Velarde from Spain, both stepped up from the Challenger Class. Also we have changed the race modus. We have head to head battles in the first and second round, which makes the competition even more challenging for the pilots. The pilots need to focus and concentrate in each single round. Just one little mistake can knock them out of the competition.”

The Red Bull Air Race takes place at the Abu Dhabi Corniche on the 13th and 14th of February. The beach will be open for public, and tickets to hospitality areas are available on: www.redbullairrace.com