New pilots from Austria, Switzerland and the USA join the Red Bull Air Race Challenger Class

– The Challenger Class was introduced in 2014 to help the next generation of pilots develop the unique skills required for potential advancement to the Master Class where they will be vying for the World Championship. 

– Nine of the pilots in the 2019 lineup have experience in past season(s), including defending Challenger Cup Champion Luke Czepiela, who is the first pilot from Poland to capture a title in the Red Bull Air Race, as well as two-time Challenger Cup winner Florian Bergér of Germany and Mélanie Astles of France, who became the first woman to win a major motorsport event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a Challenger Class race win in 2017. 

– The three new Challenger Class pilots for 2019 are Sammy Mason of the USA, Patrick Strasser of Austria and Vito Wyprächtiger of Switzerland. 

– Sammy Mason (USA), who turns 25 on 3 February, will be the youngest pilot ever to compete in the Red Bull AirRace. A third-generation aviator with gold medal success in aerobatic competitions and a strong background in top airshows, Mason has deep experience despite his youth. The native Californian also loves skateboarding and surfing when he is not flying.

– Patrick Strasser is the first Austrian to fly in the Red Bull Air Race since 2016. He is an aerobatics instructor and trainer and has won national aerobatic championships in addition to competing on the European stage. Strasser also flies ambulance missions and plays a key role in training and directing staff at an Austria-based aviation company.

– Vito Wyprächtiger is the first Swiss pilot in the history of the Red Bull Air Race. A championship winner in aviation sports such as aerobatics as well as a display pilot and aircraft engineer. He was crew chief for the team of Hannes Arch who won the 2008 Red Bull Air Race World Championship and was also previously involved in the sport as a test pilot.

– A new format makes the Challenger Cup outcome even more unpredictable. In previous seasons, Challenger Class pilots competed through the penultimate race of the season, and then only the points leaders were granted a berth in the season finale where the Challenger Cup was awarded. This year, the season finale will be treated like any other race. Six pilots from the 12-pilot field will typically compete at each stop on the calendar, with all the pilots having an opportunity to fly an equal number of races. The pilot with the highest aggregate total of points at season’s end will be awarded Challenger Cup Champion.

– 2019 Challenger Class pilotsMélanie Astles (FRA)
Florian Bergér (GER)
Kenny Chiang (HKG)
Kevin Coleman (USA)
Dario Costa (ITA)
Luke Czepiela (POL)
Patrick Davidson (RSA)
Sammy Mason (USA)
Daniel Ryfa (SWE)
Patrick Strasser (AUT)
Baptiste Vignes (FRA)
Vito Wyprächtiger (SUI)

About Red Bull Air Race 

The Red Bull Air Race World Championship is an aerial motorsport series that demands a combination of speed, precision and skill. Using the fastest, most agile, high performance race planes, pilots compete in iconic locations over water and land. The high speed, low altitude and extreme manoeuvrability required make it only accessible to the world's most exceptional pilots.

Flying just metres from the ground, 14 Master Class pilots race against the clock whilst reaching speeds of up to 370 km/h, requiring a combination of precision and skill unmatched in the world of aviation. Pilots must be in peak physical condition as they endure forces up to 12G while navigating the technical racetracks made up of air-filled pylons.

The Air Race was developed in 2003 and is accredited by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), with more than 90 races completed across five continents. As the most advanced aerial challenge in existence, competing in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship is the highest accolade for elite pilots. 

A Challenger Cup feeder series was introduced in 2014 with the goal of facilitating the development of the unique skills required for the Master Class for the next generation of pilots.