After winning the first round of Air Race 1 World Cup in Tunisia in early June, Thom Richard stormed across the finish line first, once again, in the second round of the competition in Lleida, Spain, on June 28.
The longtime Reno Air Race pilot was up against the heat (a grueling 104 degrees) and stiff competition — last year’s winner, Christian Guilie. Sunday’s event was the first time that Richard, in his new mount Hot Stuff, was up against Guilie in his self-built Arletty II.
Richard started at pole position and took the lead at an average lap speed of 253 miles per hour.
“It was a difficult weekend of racing with pressure from all sides,” Richard said. “The big threat was Guilie who stayed on my tail in the semi-final Gold Class race and who could have possibly taken the pole. I flew a tight line in the final race and forced Guilie to struggle with the wider race line and my wake turbulence.”
Air Race 1 World Cup made history this year as the first Formula One air race on the African continent. Pilots race against each other on tight circuits at speeds of up to 250 knots.
The final tier of the competition will take place in Reno on September 20, during the National Championship Air Races, where the overall formula air racing winner will be crowned.
“We are in a confident position — but not a comfortable position — heading into the third race event of the series in Reno, Nevada in September,” Richard said.
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