First up today is the Challenger Cup and here's the startlist:
DAVIDSON
BERGER
COSTA
CZEPIELA
COLEMAN
RYFA
GENEVEY
Yesterday saw Daniel Ryfa of Sweden fly fastest, with Luke Czepiela in second and Florian Berger in third
But who will take the first win of the 2018 season? We don't have long to wait and we hear planes in the sky!
South African pilot Patrick Davidson is first out into the track and Paul Bonhomme has already said he's impressed – quite a compliment!
Entry speed for the Challengers is 180kts and Davidson is just under at 178.97kts
And he's making his way through the early part of the racetrack over the Corniche... he'll set the pace today for his rivals
And there's the buzzer! It's 2s for incorrect level at Gate 4
Ryfa laid down a 58.293 yesterday so let's see if that stands today
And it's a 1:00.544 with those 2s added – otherwise that would have been a personal best
Next up it's back to back Champion Berger
And it's 178.31kts through the start gate for the German
Berger is green at the split times, well ahead of Davidson and this is what we expect from this competitor
And that's a spectacular run from Berger! It's 57.073
It will be Italian pilot, and 2018 newcomer, Dario Costa to fly third today – we've got a break now for a few minutes while the Challengers complete the plane swap back at the Race Airport
So Berger currently in the top spot with 57.073, followed by Davidson on 1:00.5544
Both Czepiela and Ryfa have flown in the 57s this week, with Ryfa going faster with 56s in a training flight earlier in the week
And Costa is in the track for his final run in Abu Dhabi!
He clocked in over the 1:00 mark in Qualifying yesterday, let's see if he can earn a PB out there today.
The newcomer is looking smoother and more controlled, no penalties so far and though he's off the pace of Berger by a significant margin... around 1.7s in the third split, he's managed to post his best time this weekend with 59.418!
Czepiela up next... as one of the few pilots who've achieve the 57s margin he could be a real contender for the podium out there today
It's a green light as he goes through the first section of the track, just 0.028s faster than Berger... but the splits are back in the red and he's lost a LOT of time through Gate 6 there... a full second behind Berger's time and he can't chase him down... pullng hard through the final section and Czepiela comes in at 58.533
Czepiela in second place overall currently with 58.533
Another short break. Coleman up next.
Colam into the track! He's posted a midfield result in the 59s this week, but we know the American pilot is capable of going really fast in the track
First up today is the Challenger Cup and here's the startlist:
Hello everyone & welcome from the land downunder. Let's hope all pilots have a safe 2018 season
So Berger currently in the top spot with 57.073, followed by Davidson on 1:00.5544
Hi to all pilots, crews, airgators and everybody who is involved with the redbullairrace!! Let the season 2018 begin!! Smoke on! Thumbs up for team MD21!! (y)
