Red Bull Air Race in Porto

The Red Bull Air Race World Championship features the world's best pilots in a motor sports competition based on speed, precision and skill.

Using the fastest, most agile and lightweight racing planes, pilots navigate a low-level aerial race track made up of air-filled pylons, reaching speeds of 370 kilometres per hour while withstanding forces of up to 12 gs.

Touching down in nine cities worldwide in 2008, each Red Bull Air Race is unique. From the heart of the city to the open countryside, over land or water, a Red Bull Air Race can take place almost anywhere. Spectacular backdrops and jaw-dropping action guarantee that spectators experience one of the most innovative and exciting new sports competitions around today.

The eighth leg of the Red Bull Air Race will be run over the river,

in the Ribeira of Oporto and Gaia Docks area,

on the weekend of the 6th and 7th September.

The race course will be set between Ponte Dom Luís I and the Massarelos overpass.

Austria's Hannes Arch won his second consecutive Red Bull Air Race today with a thrilling victory in Porto and Gaia in front of 650,000 spectators, beating American Kirby Chambliss and knocking Britain's Paul Bonhomme off the top of the World Championship to take the lead.

"It feels really great," said Arch, who opened up a stunning 9-point lead in the penultimate race of the season. "It's hard to believe that I just got my second victory in only my second year - and I'm so far ahead in the championship. I'm really enjoying this moment."

Arch now leads with 54 points. Bonhomme is second on 45 and Chambliss is third with 44 points. Arch needs one point in the final race in Perth on 1st and 2nd November to win the championship. Bonhomme would have to win the season finale and hope Arch would finish with zero points. Arch immediately stomped out speculation that it was in the bag: "I don't have it yet. As we saw, Paul messed up and if the same thing happens to me in Perth everything can change. The World Championship isn't over until Perth is finished."

The skies over the Douro river will be filled with speed and excitement this weekend as the Red Bull Air Race returns to Oporto. Over 600,000 people are expected to witness the gravity-defying slalom racing.

Planes started arriving at Oporto on Monday and training sessions for the slalom race, which consists of planes flying up to 400 km/h between inflatable pillars reaching 20 metres high, began on Thursday. This year, the Red Bull Air Race has twelve pilots listed for the antepenultimate stage of the championship, which still has no defined winner as several pilots are within reach of each other.

An investment of up to €14 million has been made for this stage and over 1,000 tonnes of equipment, such as giant screens and sound towers, has been brought in by trucks.

Around 2,500 officers, PSP, GNR, Maritime Police, Medical Emergency teams, Firemen and others, will be present to ensure the event runs smoothly. Roads will be cordoned off, medical posts will be located throughout the designated area, and the river will be closed to all boats during practise runs and the races.

Qualifying Day (Saturday, 6th September)

• 09:30 Public Pit Lane Walk
• 11:00 Doors Open
• 13:00 Side Acts
• 14:30 Qualifying 1
• 15:05 Results, Analysis, Interviews, Side Acts
• 15:30 Qualifying 2
• 16:05 Results, Summary, Interviews, Highlights of the Day

• 18:00 Doors Close

Race Day (Sunday, 7th September)

• 11:00 Doors Open
• 13:00 Side Acts and Track Introduction
• 14:30 RACE STARTS!
• 14:30 Point One
• 14:45 Super Eights
• 15:00 Results, Analysis, Interviews, Side Acts
• 15:30 Semi Finals
• 16:05 3rd place fly-off
• 16:15 Final
• 16:40 Award Ceremony

• 18:00 Doors Close

The above schedule is subject to change.