The 2017 Red Bull Air Race World Championship heads to the Russian city of Kazan this weekend. Yoshihide Muroya of Japan leads the series after back-to-back wins at San Diego and Chiba, with 39 points. Second place, Martin Sonka, follows closely, two points behind. The first American, Kirby Chambliss, won the most recent event, held in Budapest, and currently sits in fourth place overall.
This is the first Red Bull Air Race event held in Russia. Kazan, the capital of the Russian Republic of Tatarstan, is located at the confluence of the Kazanka and Volga Rivers, whose waters will serve as the Red Bull Air Race course. The picturesque old city is a popular tourist destination and frequent host to international sporting events. American Michael Goulian, who sits in eighth place overall, told members of the media he’s excited to go: “Being an avid hockey player and fan my entire life, I’ve always been a fan of the Russian athletes.Visiting this country is a first for me, and I can’t wait to see what the week has in store forus.”
