Volvo Vrooming Makes Way for Red Bull Air Race

After the first ever cross-border race in Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, the Red Bull Air Race heads over to Europe and Stockholm for the start of the first of five approximately bi-weekly races on the continent.

To recap what has happened so far; in Detroit, Paul Bonhomme showed that he was human after taking his first defeat of the year to American Kirby Chambliss by only 0.15 of a second!

Hannes Arch rounded out the top three by taking his second podium of the year after defeating Mike Mangold in the third place fly-off. A three-second penalty cost Mangold the podium place and the American crowd were unable to see two Americans take to the podium.

Further down in the standings, Peter Besenyei took the honour of being the "best of the rest" at the Detroit stop by taking fifth, while Nicolas Ivanoff, Steve Jones, Michael Goulian, and Alejandro Maclean each took points to keep them in contention.

Sergey Rakhmanin finished tenth while Glen Dell finished a race without being disqualified for the first time. Nigel Lamb was disqualified for flying too low and occupied the last spot in his MXS.

In the standings, Paul Bonhomme still has a commanding lead of 26 points over the three way second place of 21 points held by Kirby Chambliss, Mike Mangold and Hannes Arch.

In Stockholm, should the weather not hamper the flying, it will be interesting to see how the new plane, the MXS, does after getting a proper setup. The pilots using the new plane, Alejandro Maclean and Nigel Lamb were unable to get a good setup and fly the plane because qualifying was cancelled in Detroit due to high winds.

Alejandro said that "not being able to fly takes out two chances to improve," He was referring to the two flights pilots get and the fact that the fastest time moves them into contention for points.

Overall, it is a little under three weeks until Red Bull says god dag to Sweden. Keep an eye out for Hannes Arch as he is bound to surprise in only his second year of the series. Also, the pilots of the MXS plan on being dark horses this season. See you at the Riddarfjarden in Stockholm!

Photograph taken by Sheiban Shakeri