Detroit, San Diego Will Host Event In 2008

US fans of the Red Bull Air Race World Series will have not just one, but two locations in the United States to take in the aerial spectacle and thrilling action for 2008. Event organizers announced Thursday that, in addition to a return to San Diego, CA, race organizers also selected Detroit, MI to host a round of the competition.

Sweden was also unveiled as the latest country to host a round of the racing series. The announcement a race will be held in Stockholm for the first time was made by CEO Bernd Loidl, in the dramatic surrounds of Hangar-7 at Salzburg Airport in Austria.

Bids from around the world were considered before the final calendar was decided. For the first time, Detroit will appear as the second city in America to host a round of the 2008 World Series. Spain will also host a race. In addition, Rotterdam is back on the calendar after a successful Red Bull Air Race in the Dutch city in 2005.

Ten cities in all will make up the 2008 Red Bull Air Race World Series calendar with the traditional season opener in Abu Dhabi on the 10th and 11th of April. The remaining cities, who all hosted a round in 2007, are San Diego, London, Budapest, Porto and Perth.

"This is an exciting time for the Red Bull Air Race World Series. With an adapted race format, a selection of spectacular and diverse host cities and the world’s best pilots ready to battle it out, I’m looking forward to an incredible 2008 season," said Loidl.

Below is the tentative schedule for 2008, subject to approval by respective city leaders:

• Abu Dhabi, UAE April 10-11
• San Diego, USA  May 3-4
• Detroit, USA  May 31-June 1
• Stockholm, SWE July 5-6
• Rotterdam, NED July 19-20
• London, GBR August 2-3
• Budapest, HUN  August 19-20
• Porto, POR September 6-7
• TBD, Spain September 27-28
• Perth, AUS November 1-2

Each race will comprise two days of competition: Qualifying and Race Day. A new race format will see all twelve pilots compete on Race Day for the first time.

South African Glen Dell will make his debut in the Red Bull Air Race World Series in 2008, with Dutchman Frank Versteegh and German Klaus Schrodt retiring from the sport. This means that twelve of the world’s top pilots will contest the 2008 Red Bull Air Race World Series flying through the challenging, twisting race tracks just metres above the ground with points awarded for the fastest times and least number of penalties.

The overall winner will be crowned Red Bull Air Race World Champion after the season finale in Perth, Australia in November.

In 2007, there were four million spectators at the 10 races held worldwide and over 400 million on television. In addition, thousands tuned in for racing recaps on Fox Sports Network -- something they'll also be able to do on Sunday nights in 2008.

FMI: www.redbullairrace.com