The Red Bull Air Races will return to San Diego this year with an early spring date. The second race of the year will be held in the southern California city April 15-16. San Diego was a popular stop when it hosted races from 2007-2009. Las Vegas has been dropped as a stop but Indianapolis will host its second Red Bull race with the season closer Oct. 14-15. The season opens Feb. 10-11 in Abu Dhabi, which has been the launch point for 10 race seasons. Races will also be held in Chiba, Japan (June 3-4), Budapest (July 1-2) and Kazan, Russia (July 22-23).
There have been some roster changes for this year’s series. Cristian Bolton, of Chile, and Mika Brageot, of France, move into the Master Class bringing the total number of aircraft in each event to 14. Bolton flew in the last two races of 2016, filling a void left by the death of veteran Red Bull racer Hannes Arch, who died in an unrelated helicopter crash last September.
