American pilot Michael Goulian continued his dream season in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship on Sunday, regaining the series lead after finishing second in the event at Kazan, Russia.
Goulian, from Plymouth, Massachusetts, earned his fourth podium finish in five races this season in the world’s most prestigious aerobatic racing series, which competes Oct. 6-7 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He leads Martin Sonka of the Czech Republic, who won at Kazan, and Matt Hall of Australia, 55-49, in the Master Class championship with three races remaining in 2018.
“We are going to try to keep winning,” Goulian said. “This is not a time to play defense. We will just keep our foot on the gas and try to be consistent. When the opportunity to win arises, we will take it.”
Goulian is the only pilot to make the Final Four of all five events this season. He is flying for his first World Championship, as his previous best season finish was fifth in 2006.
The return to the top spot by Goulian was a highlight of a strong weekend for American pilots over Russian skies. Two-time Master Class World Champion Kirby Chambliss, of Tucson, Arizona, earned his second podium finish of the season by placing third.
Louisiana native Kevin Coleman flew to his first victory of the season in the Challenger Class, the last step before the elite Master Class. Coleman climbed to third in the Challenger Class standings with the victory, just two points behind joint leaders Luke Czepiela of Poland and two-time Challenger Class champion Florian Berger of Germany.
Sonka qualified 12th in Master Class competition at Kazan but rebounded to post the quickest time in the opening Round of 14. Sonka beat Goulian by .115 of a second in the Final Four.
The next Red Bull Air Race World Championship event is Sept. 15-16 in Wiener Neustadt, Austria, followed by the event over the infield of IMS.
Visit IMS.com to buy tickets or for more information about the Red Bull Air Race on Oct. 6-7 at IMS.
American Pilot Goulian Takes Lead in Red Bull Air Race after Runner-up Finish in Russia
Goulian, from Plymouth, Massachusetts, earned his fourth podium finish in five races this season in the world’s most prestigious aerobatic racing series, which competes Oct. 6-7 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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