Salzburg, Austria – There will be more action than ever before at the 2015 Red Bull Air Race World Championship with an extra head-to-head knock out round added in the world's fastest motorsport series. By expanding the high-speed, low-altitude competition to a field of 14 pilots from 11 countries, the race format has been revamped to heighten the competition and will now feature seven head-to-head race battles in the opening Round of 14. Then in the Round of 8, seven winners of the Round of 14 plus the fastest loser from the first seven races will square off against each other in a second round of head-to-head, winner-take-all knock-out races. The four winners of the Round of 8 will race against the clock in the Final Four round to claim a podium place.

"This new format will be a big challenge for the pilots to fly more precisely and better than ever before and we're confident it will make the Red Bull Air Race more exciting and competitive," said Jim DiMatteo, Race Director of the Red Bull Air Race. "With a larger field, we were looking for ways to make the racing even more competitive and more thrilling for the fans watching at the racetrack or on television. The pilots know that just one little mistake in the Round of 14 or Round of 8 can cost them dearly."

The eighth Red Bull Air Race World Championship, which kicks off with the season opener in Abu Dhabi on February 13-14, has added two new pilots, Francois Le Vot (FRA) and Juan Velarde (ESP), moving up from the Challenger Cup to race against the 12 returning pilots. Another new feature on race day in 2015 will be the Challenger Cup, designed in 2014 to give promising pilots the chance to gain racing experience under conditions with slightly less pressure. The Challenger Cup will now take place before the Round of 14 this year instead of on Qualifying Day.

Britain's Nigel Lamb will be vying to defend his 2014 title with runner-up Hannes Arch of Austria and Paul Bonhomme of Britain, who was third last year, returning with high hopes for 2015. The 2015 World Championship features two new stops in Japan and Russia along with a return to Budapest, Hungary. The world's fastest motorsport series will also be back at five popular locations in 2015 with stops in Abu Dhabi (UAE), Ascot (GBR), Spielberg (AUT), Fort Worth and Las Vegas (USA).

2015 Race Calendar:

For more information, please visit www.redbullairrace.com

THE RED BULL AIR RACE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Created in 2003, officially the World Championship of air racing since 2005, the Red Bull Air Race is followed by millions of fans worldwide. The fastest motorsport series in the world features 14 of the best race pilots in a pure motor-sport competition that combines speed, precision and skill. Using the fastest, most agile and lightweight racing planes, pilots navigate a low-level aerial track made up of air-filled pylons 25 meters high. New since 2014 is the Challenger Cup, a competition which enables young talented pilots to work towards acquiring entry into the Master Class of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.