Three New Faces In 2016 Include The First Ever Female Red Bull Air Race Pilot, And The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Has Been Added To The Venue

The Red Bull website has been sparkling with new information which includes new pilots and an appearance at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. French aerobatic champion Mélanie Astles is set to become the first female pilot to join the Red Bull Air Race's Challenger Cup. Completing the list of three new pilots the 2016 lineup are Britain's Ben Murphy and American pilot Kevin Coleman.

Mélanie Astles, a five time French aerobatic champion who has earned top ten rankings at World and European levels, enters the history books as the first woman ever to compete in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship. Astles said, "I will mostly enjoy the tremendous opportunity of sharing my passion with the crowds. I can't hide the fact that for me it's a real dream to join the 2016 Challenger Cup, I'm really looking forward to that great challenge."

The UK's Ben Murphy is a former Commanding Officer and team leader of the RAF's world-class Red Arrows display team, and is set to bring even more military precision to the Challenger Cup, following in the footsteps of Chilean Air Force pilot Cristian Bolton.

Kevin Coleman, a flying prodigy from the US Advanced Aerobatic Team, will be taking up the baton as the first American to join the ranks of the Challenger Cup, and will be the youngest pilot competing this season.

2016 also sees the return of Luke Czepiela, an accomplished Polish aerobatic pilot who previously notched up a season's worth of racing experience when he competed in the 2014 Challenger Cup.

The new pilots will be making their debut at the Red Bull Air Race World Championship in Abu Dhabi on March 11-12, and will be working towards obtaining the "Unrestricted Superlicence" required to fly in the Master Class.

However, the news is not only about the pilots. On your marks…get set…fly! Perhaps that should be the new start cue at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Training at famous racetrack will take place on September 29-30, followed by a single day dedicated to two qualifying competitions on October 1. Race Day on October 2 will consist of three competitions.

(Images source: Red Bull website. Top - Mélanie Astles, Middle - Ben Murphy, Lower -  Kevin Coleman)

FMI: www.redbullairrace.com/en_US