Budapest is the spiritual home of the Red Bull Air Race and will once again be the mid-season stop on the 2018 World Championship calendar. As one of the most popular locations, the Hungarian capital always pulls in a monumental crowd to witness the racing action. In 2009, 650,000 spectators lined the banks of the Danube For this season, the pilots head to Hungary on 23-24 June. Budapest is a true spectacle on the race calendar due to the unique start for the Master Class pilots. They begin their run into the track by flying under the iconic Chain Bridge – something that must be seen with your own eyes.

Created in 2003, the Red Bull Air Race World Championship celebrated its landmark 75th race at the 2017 season opener in Abu Dhabi. The Red Bull Air Race World Championship features the world’s best race pilots in a pure motorsport competition that combines speed, precision and skill. Using the fastest, most agile, lightweight racing planes, pilots hit speeds of 370kmh while enduring forces of up to 10G as they navigate a low-level slalom track marked by 25-meter-high, air-filled pylons. The objective is to complete the course, navigating the 65 feet high specially designed inflatable pylons known as Air Gates in the fastest possible time. Red Bull Air Race pilots must pass between the Air Gates in the correct position taking care not to touch them with their wings. The pilots compete for points at each Red Bull Air Race and the one who accumulates the most at the end of the season is crowned Red Bull Air Race World Champion. 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 that vies for the World Championship.

“This amazing series has its roots right here in Budapest,” said Red Bull Air Race legend Peter Besenyei, who retired in 2015. “My heart will always be with the Red Bull Air Race, and it’s a pleasure to show these pilots my city from the sky."

Hungary's Peter Besenyei, one of the most successful pilots in the history of the Red Bull Air Race with eight career victories, he retired 2 years ago  from the sport he helped develop in 2003. Besenyei won the title in the inaugural season in 2003 and has been a driving force behind its growth through his 10 seasons of high-speed, low-altitude racing.

Split across the Danube, it's a city of two halves – Buda and Pest. The iconic backdrop of the neogothic Parliament building on the Pest side of the river offers fans a stunning panoramic view of the action. On the Buda side of the city, you'll find the Statue of Liberty, on top of Gellért Hill, along with the Citadel. This is why Budapest is regularly featured in the Top 10 list of World's Best Cities.  If you’re by accident spending your holidays in town at the time of the race, you’ll definitely be able to see this wicked event over the river Danube between the Elizabeth and Margaret Bridges: a central and scenic location for this amazing aerial performance. Beware the event is overcrowded and there are some traffic and transport restrictions during this weekend: tram 2 won't be running, car traffic is also due to limitations. If you’re a true Red Bull Air race fan and only come to our city to follow your favourite pilots and watch the race: you’ll have the chance to see the most famous historic sights of the Hungarian capital: the Gellért Hill, Buda Castle, the Parliament, and surely you must be familiar with the Chain Bridge as the competitors need to fly under the bridge and one has to be real skilled to be able to do that,

Saturday 23 Jun - Qualifying Day

Sunday 24 Jun - Race Day

Photo: Armin Walcher/Red Bull Content Pool