15 January 2016
The 2016 Red Bull Air Race Challenger Cup, staged alongside the world championship, will feature a female pilot for the first time and a new Brit – former RAF commander and Red Arrow leader, Ben Murphy. Mélanie Astles is a five-time French aerobatic champion who has also earned top ten rankings at world and European levels.
Mélanie Astles said, “I can’t hide the fact that for me it’s a real dream to join the 2016 Challenger Cup.”
Ben Murphy said, “I’ve been lucky enough to have done some amazing flying in my career but the Red Bull Air Race remains the ultimate challenge for me. The precision, skill and teamwork needed to succeed in the Master Class is second to none, and the Challenger Cup competition will give me the chance to build the experience required to compete at that level.”
Mélanie and Ben, and two other new pilots, American Kevin Coleman and Luke Czepiela from Poland, will make their debut at the first round of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship in Abu Dhabi on 11/12 March.
2016 Race Calendar:
Abu Dhabi, UAE (March 11-12)
Spielberg, Austria (April 23-24)
Japan*
Budapest, Hungary (July 16-17)
Ascot, Great Britain (August 13-14)
Lausitzring, Germany (September 3-4)
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA (October 1-2)
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (October 15-16)
*To be confirmed
