Air Race Announces Cancellation of 2022 World Series

Air Race World Championship on Friday 12 August announced the 2022 world series is cancelled citing COVID-19 and the global economic situation.

World champion pilot Matt Hall expressed great disappointment in the announcement, "I'm pretty gutted for many reasons as are the other pilots, fans and everyone involved."

Image courtesy of Air Race World Championship

Hall says the cost to produce the Air Race series is one of the main challenges with the modern day sport, "People may not realise that these races are $12 million (AUD) each to put on a world class product that people expect. The logistics, safety and operational requirements are huge.

"Air Race were passionate enough and brave enough to revive the series after Red Bull sold it, but the result probably shows what Red Bull achieved was quite incredible."

Hall’s home town of Lake Macquarie was set to host the final race of the series in November, "It's an opportunity gone begging for Lake Macquarie. We’ve raced in many awesome locations, but Lake Macquarie was lining up to put on a spectacular event in a really true blue Aussie setting.

"I am personally extremely humbled, grateful and proud to say that the work people have done here in Australia at a local level has been first class.

“The challenges back at Air Race sound like they are too big to overcome. Everyone understands how tough it is to put on events of this magnitude, especially right now, but I’m probably most disappointed that the organisers didn’t call this cancellation sooner.

"This isn’t the end of Air Race, but yes the reality is sinking in that we won't be racing at home or at all. At least not this year."

Media contact

For further information please contact:
Katie Gold – Commercial Director, Matt Hall Racing
m +61 404 551 551
e katie@matthallracing.com

About Matt Hall

Matt is the reigning Red Bull Air Race world champion and former Royal Australian Air Force top gun fighter pilot. Matt placed third in his world championship racing debut in 2009 and has since accumulated seven wins and 25 podiums, making him the most successful race pilot in the modern era to compete in Elite XR\1.