Al Ain in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE, has been chosen by the organisers of air racing series Aero GP to host the first Grand Prix of the 2009 Aero GP series.
The Aero GP series of races will be the main event of the prestigious Al Ain Aerobatic Show, which will be held from 28 – 31 January 2009. This is the first time that an Aero GP race has been held in the UAE region and it is believed to be the first time in history that a pylon race has been held in the Middle East.
Aero GP is a new motorsport series unlike any other, combining three highly difficult sporting disciplines. Each Aero GP consists of the following three events: Air Race – an air race featuring six aircraft in the air at the same time, racing against each other around a circuit, often just metres above the ground, in the fastest motorsport in the world; Air Combat – a demanding discipline where two pilots compete head to head in a battle for air supremacy, trying to score enough hits on their opponent for the victory and Stunts – various stunts are selected, ranging from aerobatics to limbo flying.
Jeff Zaltman, Managing Director of Aero GP, said, “We are extremely proud to be a part of the Al Ain Aerobatic Show, which has become a major player in the international air show calendar. Together with Al Ain we are making history in the region and we are excited to be able to showcase our sport to a new audience. Al Ain is unique because it is one of the few air shows in the world that regularly includes a competitive sports element. Aero GP is air sport at its most competitive, so Al Ain is a perfect and visionary location for Aero GP.”
HH Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) said, “We are consistently reviewing our products and events, even the most successful, to see how we can improve them and add new dimensions to maintain and enhance their appeal. The delivery of product excellence extends to every ADTA undertaking and has been brought to bear on the 2009 Al Ain Aerobatic Show.”
