Red-Bull Style Air Racing is due to return next year after the World Championship Air Racing (WCAR) announced this week that it had entered a partnership with the World Air Sports Federation. The sport has not run since it was axed by Red Bull in 2019 due to insufficient outside interest. A total of 14 seasons and around 100 races were staged, with 14 pilots competing in the Master Class in the final years of the sport.

The WCAR revealed that a Former RAF fighter pilot, as well as the pilot for the Wildcat Aerobatic Team Willie Cruickshank, will join the team as the WCAR Race Series Director. It has also been announced that Kirsty Murphy an ex RAF Red Arrows pilot and the current pilot for The Blades Aerobatic Team will join its Advisory Board. Kirsty joins air racing legends Nigel Lamb, Paul Bonhomme, Jimbo Reed and Jim DiMatteo as the expert panel advising on the new series which is set to debut in the first quarter of 2022.

Willie Cruickshank, WCAR Race Series Director, said

“We are delighted to announce this exciting new agreement between the FAI and World Championship Air Race to bring city-centre air-racing back to the public.”

"In addition to creating a highly competitive championship for spectators around the world to enjoy, we share a common purpose to develop and demonstrate the future of green aviation and urban air mobility in a demanding and highly competitive environment.”

“World Championship Air Race now has the commitment from the best race pilots in the world, flying the best aircraft, under the exclusive jurisdiction of the world governing body, putting us in a very strong position as we build towards Season 1 which we plan to debut in early 2022.”

The series will evolve its race aircraft through the staged introduction of sustainable fuels, electric drivetrains and electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) race-craft from Season 3.