French pilot, Christian Guilie, has won the first international Formula One class air racing series.
Eleven pilots from the USA, UK, France and Sweden took part in the Air Race F1 contest in Lleida, near Barcelona, Spain on 1 June.
Guilie was crowned the winner in the Gold Class Final when he crossed the line with an average speed of 383kph (238mph). It was a truly global podium with three different nationalities comprising first, second and third spots. The race itself was close with Guilie taking the win ahead of USA’s veteran race pilot Jay Jones and Sweden’s Thom Richard. While his rivals’ experience and manoeuvrability was arguably stronger, it was the Frenchman’s use of energy and speed that was the deciding factor.
The Silver Class Final was also a blisteringly competitive race, in which rookie Des Hart was the first to cross the line with an average speed of 293kph (182mph). With the aircraft constantly jostling for position from the outset, the Scotsman eventually came out on top after moving steadily up through the pack. French pilots, Guy Chereau and rookie Stansilas Damiron finished a close second and third respectively.
All results were fully ratified by the three recognized Formula One air racing associations of the United States, France and UK: the International Formula One Association (IF1), the Association des Pilotes d’Avions de Formules (APAF) and the Formula Air Racing Association (FARA).
The final positions were:
Gold Class Final Results:
1. Race #6 Christian Guilie – Fra – 239 mph
2. Race #45 Jay Jones – US – 232 mph
3. Race #99 Thom Richard – Swe – 222 mph
4. Race #46 Vincent Martinez – Fra – 195 mph
5. Race #11 Des Hart – UK – 174 mph
6. Race #19 Stansilas Damiron – Fra – 170 mph
7. Race #25 Bernard Marichy – Fra – 167 mph
8. Race #87 Steve Temple – US – DNF
Silver Class Final results:
1. Race #11 Des Hart – UK – 182 mph
2. Race #31 Guy Chereau – Fra – 174 mph
3. Race #19 Stansilas Damiron – Fra – 171 mph
4. Race #25 Bernard Marichy – Fra – 169 mph
5. Race #22 Trevor Jarvis – UK – 147 mph
6. Race #55 Patrick Gajan – Fra – 138 mph
To find out more about Formula One air racing, visit airracef1.com
