Hall Set For The Skies
Newly crowned Red Bull Air Race world champion Matt Hall is set to light up the 2019 Yokohama World Time Attack Challenge (WTAC) at Sydney Motorsport Park next month, upping the octane on his thrill-a-minute air display to include a close-quarters drag style take off in front of the crowd.
The event, to be held from October 18-19 at the Western Sydney race circuit, is being billed as ‘two days of motorsport madness’ and will feature a long list of top-level competitors. Among them are the likes of Supercar stars Shane van Gisbergen and Andre Heimgartner, as well as 40 internationals participating across the time attack event and the ‘International Drifting Cup’
Hall’s involvement will see him thrill the crowd on Saturday October 19, when he lines up on the main straight in his MXS-R plane, a four-time race winning machine in the Red Bull Air Race. From engine start, Hall will taxi past the grand stand and then perform a max-speed take off, before pulling up near vertically into his show-stopping air display.
The involvement of the Aussie air race champion comes after Superlap (owner of WTAC) CEO Ian Baker contacted Hall in the weeks before his world title winning flight in Japan. Baker, the founder of WTAC in Australia, said he was excited to see an air display that would be on a totally new level.
“This really is fantastic news,” said Superlap CEO, Ian Baker.
“To be able to welcome Matt back home as the new World Champion by putting on a show for our fans and millions of viewers worldwide truly is an honour.
“Anyone who has seen him perform will tell you that we are in for one hell of a spectacle. We have had stunt planes perform before, but these Red Bull Air Race planes are on another level entirely.”
Meanwhile, Hall said he was eager put on a spine-tingling performance in front of an audience of passionate motorsport fans.
“I can’t wait to fly at the World Time Attack, it’s all about high performance vehicles and racing them to their limit and I think the crowd will get a real thrill out of seeing our MXS-R race plane…this thing will make the hair stand up on the back of your neck,” Hall said.
“I’m really grateful to Ian Baker and his team for having me at the event. They’ve worked incredibly hard with CAMS to ensure that we can land the plane on the track and do something different. I’m also looking forward to having a good look at the event once my feet are back on the ground.”
The 2019 Yokohama WTAC takes place on October 18-19 at Sydney Motorsport Park. In addition to his air display, Hall will be appearing on centre stage at midday, just prior to his take off. He will also be available for a meet and greet with fans throughout the morning of the event.