There was buzz about the feeder class of the Red Bull Air Race even before the season began, with the announcement of three new pilots: Sammy Mason of the USA, Patrick Strasser of Austria and Vito Wyprächtiger of Switzerland. Each of the total 12 pilots flew three races in the 2019 campaign, which in a format change did not award a season Challenger Cup but focused on the competition for the podium at every stop.

The culminating season of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship served up surprises, setbacks and sweet success in a battle that went down to the final run of the final race.

In the last run of the final race of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship, Australia’s Matt Hall – who had stood on the overall podium four times previously – finally clinched the top step.

The pressure could hardly have been higher. A three-time runner-up in the World Championship with one third-place finish, Hall came into the 2019 season finale in Chiba, Japan in second; and the series was being discontinued, so there would be no future opportunities. If that were not enough, a typhoon was threatening to cancel the race and leave him, once again, a bridesmaid.

What a race, what a season, what a motorsport. Once again the Red Bull Air Race World Championship has delivered. It’s been a fantastic race in Chiba. Here are the pilots' final words on the day…