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Rules
An overview of the rules and principles that govern the Red Bull Air Race World Championship
The Red Bull Air Race World Championship is an international series of races. The objective is for pilots, in their single-engine, piston raceplanes to navigate an aerial racetrack featuring air-filled pylons in the fastest possible time incurring as few penalties as possible.
Pilots can win World Championship points at each race and the pilot with the most points after the last race of the season becomes the Red Bull Air Race World Champion.
THE RED BULL AIR RACE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Predrag Vuckovic/RBAR
The Red Bull Air Race World Championship is an international series of races with the participation of at least eight pilots at each race. The objective is to navigate an aerial racetrack featuring air-filled pylons in the fastest possible time incurring as few penalties as possible.
Pilots can win World Championship points at each race and the pilot with the most points after the last race of the season becomes the Red Bull Air Race World Champion.
THE CHALLENGER CUP
Predrag Vuckovic/RBAR
In 2014, the Challenger Cup was conceived to help the next generation of pilots develop the skills needed for potential advancement to the Master Class.
The Challenger Cup is the second competition category in the Red Bull Air Race and is designed to build on a pilot's existing experience. The pilots will fly at the same locations as the Master Class pilots but sometimes will race a simpler track configuration. Each pilot will fly five races in the 2019 season.
Race format
Master class
The Red Bull Air Race consists of the following flying sessions: Free Practice, Qualifying, Round of 14, Round of 8, Final 4. In all sessions, only one pilot races in the track at a time.
Master Class versenyforma
Kvalifikáció
1. nap - Kvalifikációs nap
A versenyt megelőző napon, az úgynevezett Kvalifikációs napon rendezik meg. Két kötelező futamból áll. A legjobb időeredmény számít. A kvalifikációs futam eredményei alapján áll össze a versenynap rajtsorrendje.
14. pilóta
13. pilóta
12. pilóta
11. pilóta
10. pilóta
9. pilóta
8. pilóta
7. pilóta
6. pilóta
5. pilóta
4. pilóta
3. pilóta
2. pilóta
1. pilóta
14-es futam
2. nap - Versenynap
Takes place on Race Day. This flying session is completed in head-to-head heats; the seven winners plus the Fastest Loser move forward to the Round of 8. The head-to-head pairings are based on the Qualifying session results.
Párbaj 1
10th Qualifying
5. időmérő
Párbaj 2
11th Qualifying
4. időmérő
Párbaj 3
9th Qualifying
6. időmérő
Párbaj 4
12th Qualifying
3. időmérő
Párbaj 5
8th Qualifying
7th Qualifying
Párbaj 6
13th Qualifying
2. időmérő
Párbaj 7
14th Qualifying
1. időmérő
8-as kör
2. nap - Versenynap
A 14-es futam hét győztese és a leggyorsabb vesztes újból páronkénti futamokban versenyez. Ezekből a négy leggyorsabb pilóta jut be a Négyes Döntőbe. A vesztesek számára a 8-as futamban elért eredményeik határozzák meg az 5. és 8. hely közötti sorrendet.
Párbaj 8
5th Fastest
4th Fastest
Párbaj 9
6th Fastest
3rd Fastest
Párbaj 10
7th Fastest
2nd Fastest
Párbaj 11
8th Fastest
1st Fastest
Négyes Döntő
2. nap - Versenynap
A 8-as futam négy leggyorsabb pilótája száll harcba a Négyes Döntő 1., 2., 3. és 4. rajthelyéért. A pilóták ugyanabban a sorrendben repülnek, ahogy a korábbi körben. A versenyzők egyenként repülnek és az győz közülük, aki a legjobb időeredménnyel teljesít.
Győztes párbaj 8
Győztes párbaj 9
Győztes párbaj 10
Győztes párbaj 11
Challenger class
For the 2019 season six Challenger Class pilots will compete at each race and each pilot will fly in five races over the season.
Challenger Class versenyforma
Szabadedzés
1. nap - Kvalifikációs nap
A Challenger Class szabadedzései pont úgy zajlanak, mint a Master Class esetében.
1. pilóta
2. pilóta
3. pilóta
4. pilóta
5. pilóta
6. pilóta
Kvalifikáció
1. nap - Kvalifikációs nap
A Master Class-tól eltérően a Challanger Class pilótái csak egy időmérőt repülnek. Az itt elért eredményük alapján indulnak a versenynapon.
1. pilóta
2. pilóta
3. pilóta
4. pilóta
5. pilóta
6. pilóta
Challenger Cup
2. nap - Versenynap
A pilóták a győzelemért időalapon küzdenek. A legjobb négy időt elért pilóta versenyez a döntőben. A sorrendjük az időmérőn elért helyezésük alapján dől el.
1. időmérő
2. időmérő
3. időmérő
4. időmérő
5. időmérő
6. időmérő
Scoring
Master Class
For the first time since 2010, points will be awarded in Qualifying: three points for the fastest, two for second place, and one for third. In addition, pilots will continue to receive Race Day points according to their final placement, but the allotment has changed, and bonus points will be added for advancing through the rounds (five points for advancement to the Round of 8 and three points for advancing to the Final 4). Given that the 2018 World Champion has been decided by five points or less in the past two seasons, these extra scoring opportunities could be crucial, and the new scheme is sure to shake up strategies.
Qualifying
| PLACE | POINTS |
| 1st | 3 |
| 2nd | 2 |
| 3rd | 1 |
Race
| PLACE | POINTS |
| 1st | 25 |
| 2nd | 22 |
| 3rd | 20 |
| 4th | 18 |
| 5th | 14 |
| 6th | 13 |
| 7th | 12 |
| 8th | 11 |
| 9th | 5 |
| 10th | 4 |
| 11th | 3 |
| 12th | 2 |
| 13th | 1 |
| 14th | 0 |
The race winner is the pilot who is ranked number one in the final flying session of a race.
The Red Bull Air Race World Champion is the Master Class pilot who achieves the highest aggregate score in the given Red Bull Air Race World Championship season. The winner is crowned at the last stop in the World Championship.
Challenger class
Challenger Cup points are awarded after each race, and will help determine the winner of the Challenger Cup at the end of the season. The points system is as follows:
| PLACE | POINTS |
| 1st | 10 |
| 2nd | 8 |
| 3rd | 6 |
| 4th | 4 |
| 5th | 2 |
| 6th | 0 |
Six Challenger Class pilots will take part at each event in the race calendar. Each pilot will compete in five races throughout the season. The pilot with the most points at the end of the season will be crowned the Challenger Cup Champion.
Race Rules
Failure to fly the course within the rules will result in penalty seconds or disqualification. Here are some of the more frequently broken rules. To learn more about the race rules of Red Bull Air Race, watch the video below.
OVER G
Penalty incurred when a pilot reaches 11G, but was under 12G for a Master Class pilot, or under 11G for a Challenger Class pilot.
+ 1 Second
EXCEEDING MAXIMUM G
Incurred when a Master Class pilot reaches 12G, or when a Challenger Class pilot reaches 11G.
DNF (Did Not Finish)
EXCEEDING START SPEED LIMIT
Incurred when the pilot exceeds the entry speed of 200kts through the Start Gate. For exceeding by under 1.99kts it’s 1 seconds penalty, otherwise a DNF.
+1 second / DNF
DEVIATION FROM THE COURSE
When the pilot deviates from the racetrack, the run is stopped.
DNF
WEIGHT PENALTY
Incurred when a pilot does not reach the minimum 696 kg weight requirement.
DQ (Disqualification)
PYLON HIT
Penalty incurred when any part of the raceplane touches a pylon.
1st pylon hit: + 3 seconds
2nd pylon hit: + 3 seconds
3rd pylon hit: DNF
INCORRECT LEVEL FLYING
Penalty incurred when flying through a gate at an angle, or climbing/sinking in the gate.
+ 2 second
INSUFFICIENT SMOKE
Penalty incurred if a raceplane isn’t producing smoke during the pilot’s run.
+ 1 second
FLYING TOO HIGH/LOW
Penalty incurred if flying above or below the flight window.
+ 2 seconds
INCORRECT VERTICAL TURNING MANOEUVRE
Penalty incurred when the pilot deviates from the briefed manoeuvre. If excessive, a DNF is incurred.
+ 1 Second /DNF
Pilots
Master class
For 2019, 14 pilots will take part in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship. Master Class pilots will have obtained their Master Class Super Licence, as issued by the Red Bull Air Race Committee.
Challenger class
A total of 12 pilots will compete in the Challenger Cup in 2019. Six Challenger Class pilots will take part at each event in the race calendar, with each flying five races throughout the season. The pilot with the most points at the end of the season will be crowned the Challenger Cup winner.
Becoming a Red Bull Air Race Pilot
New pilots who wish to participate in the World Championship must first fulfil the minimum criteria set by the Red Bull Air Race Committee, which include top achievements in international flying competitions organised by the FAI. They must also be active aerobatic air display pilots. Eligible pilots that prove their skills at the Red Bull Air Race Qualification Camp can achieve the Red Bull Air Race Challenger Class Super Licence. Once they have the Challenger Class Super Licence, they then qualify to take part in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship in the Challenger Cup.