Abu Dhabi is getting ready to host the opening round of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship held on March 26 and 27 under the patronage of HH. Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, with the continuous support of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, and the sponsorship of DU – The Official National Telecom Partner.

The Emirati capital has so far hosted the event five times; however, the race over the corniche of Abu Dhabi is in constant evolution and innovation year after year.

The race track in Abu Dhabi is one of the most challenging in the world - for reasons that range from the shifting winds, high-G turns, a changing landscape, an ever-expanding skyline as well as the general pressure of being the season opener. Around ten thousand spectators and fans will gather at the corniche and will be in the pilots’ field of vision, right behind the air gates. The scene will change as the planes rise up in the air to head back down towards the Big Blue. Pilots will then refer to their unique skills facing gravity and will lead their aircrafts towards the horizon after reaching the required height. Added to that is the mental stress of the season opener where every pilot seeks some moral support materialized by championship points, awaiting the remaining 7 races.

Abu Dhabi is anything but a routine track for the pilots even though the race box has remained in a similar location. A new beach on the corniche side of the 5-6 km track will give spectators an excellent vantage point to see the action.

The chicane has been moved right in front of the new beach in tribute to the landmark. The popular turning maneuver has also been positioned this year so that the high-G force pull-up is facing the new hotel buildings next to the iconic Emirates Palace. The Abu Dhabi Race Box has always been tight and this year, it is even tighter due to the expanded beach area. Another new aspect to the 2010 race in Abu Dhabi is a new location for the Race Airport at the Municipality Harbour where a customized runway and the Race Team aircraft hangars are set up on what is normally a shipping pier.

Abu Dhabi is a location that can challenge even the most experienced pilots. The prevailing winds are typically moderate from one direction in the morning and then switch to strong winds from the exact opposite direction in the afternoon. That makes it difficult for the pilots to use the same race line as the influence of the wind on the planes has the opposite effect in each run. Pilots often say that means there are in essence two different tracks in Abu Dhabi, depending on the wind. Once the competition heats up, it often results in numerous pylon hits as even the slightest misjudgment can result in planes carving through the Air Gates rather than between them.
 

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