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Pete McLeod on the podium for the Red Bull Air Race season opener in Abu Dhabi. (Photo-Red Bull Content Pool)

By: Red Bull Air Race
February 11 2017 

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Three must be a lucky number for Red Bull Air Race pilot Pete McLeod. After finishing the final two races of 2016 in third place, the Canadian extended his podium streak to three with a third place at the Red Bull Air Race season opener in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. That puts him at the number three position in the early World Championship standings. And the achievement marked the third time he’s earned a third-place finish in an Abu Dhabi season kickoff, as well.

McLeod had seemed to be a speedway specialist, in past seasons earning podiums at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,17021101b and Texas Motor Speedway, as well as an all-out win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but his third podium over the Arabian Gulf – beating out none other than defending World Champion Matthias Dolderer in the Final 4 – confirms that he’s equally as strong on racetracks over water.

"It's great; I can't ask for a better start. It's so competitive out there, and I wanted to pick up where left I off last season,” said the Team McLeod pilot. “I now want to work on being faster. Today was a good day – my team made it easy for me to go out and fly. Everyone says it's a team effort, and it all kind of came together."

In what was a remarkable start to the 2017 Red Bull Air Race season, the Czech Republic’s Martin Šonka clinched his first race win since he joined the World Championship in 2010. Spain’s Juan Velarde turned his first-ever appearance in the Final 4 into his debut podium with second place.

Tickets for all stops of the 2017 Red Bull Air Race World Championship – including the next race in San Diego, USA on 15-16 April – are on sale now.

For more information on tickets and all the latest, visit www.redbullairrace.com

Results Master Class Abu Dhabi:

1. Martin Šonka (CZE), 2. Juan Velarde (ESP), 3. Pete McLeod (CAN), 4. Matthias Dolderer (GER), 5. Nicolas Ivanoff (FRA), 6. Michael Goulian (USA), 7. Cristian Bolton (CHI), 8. François Le Vot (FRA), 9. Mikaël Brageot (FRA), 10. Matt Hall (AUS), 11. Kirby Chambliss (USA), 12. Petr Kopfstein (CZE), 13. Yoshihide Muroya (JPN) DNF, 14. Peter Podlunšek (SLO) DQ

World Championship Standings: Martin Šonka (CZE) 15 pts, 2. Juan Velarde (ESP) 12 pts, 3. Pete McLeod (CAN) 9 pts, 4. Matthias Dolderer (GER) 7 pts, 5. Nicolas Ivanoff (FRA) 6 pts, 6. Michael Goulian (USA) 5 pts, 7. Cristian Bolton (CHI) 4 pts, 8. François Le Vot (FRA) 3 pts, 9. Mikaël Brageot (FRA) 2 pts, 10. Matt Hall (AUS) 1 pt, 11. Kirby Chambliss (USA) 0, 12. Petr Kopfstein (CZE) 0, 13. Yoshihide Muroya (JPN) 0, 14. Peter Podlunšek (SLO) 0  

Red Bull Air Race 2017 Calendar

February 10-11: Abu Dhabi, UAE
April 15-16: San Diego, USA
June 3-4: Chiba, Japan
July 1-2: Budapest, Hungary
July 22-23: Kazan, Russia
August 12-13: TBA, Europe
September 2-3: TBA, Europe
October 14-15: Indianapolis, USA

About Red Bull Air Race:

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. 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.

Canadians In BOLD