RED BULL AIR RACE RETURNS TO PORTUGAL

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The Red Bull Air Race returns to Porto and Gaia on 6th and 7th September for the penultimate leg of the 2008 World Championship. Another record crowd is expected to descend on the Portuguese cities where last year 600,000 fans packed the banks of the Douro River to watch the world's best pilots in action.

The Portuguese race will feature a fast and narrow track. The biggest challenge for the pilots will be maintaining maximum momentum and speed as they negotiate the twisting chicanes whilst keeping a tight and smooth line.

With just one race to go before the season finale in Australia and with the positions of the top pilots so close, Porto is shaping up to be an exciting and crucial race for the World Championship. Britain's Paul Bonhomme is clinging to the slimmest of leads and faces tough competition from Austrian Hannes Arch who is now in second place having claimed his first ever victory at the last race in Budapest. American Kirby Chambliss has dropped nine points behind the frontrunners to third place after a disastrous performance in Budapest, seriously jeopardizing his championship hopes.

The Portuguese race was one of the most spectacular on last year's calendar with the striking bridges and historic, picturesque Ribeira waterfront providing an incredible backdrop. Traffic stopped moving and virtually every inch of balcony space was occupied with people eager to watch the race which takes place between the Dom Luis I and Arrábida bridges.

Britain's Steve Jones, who came second in Budapest and currently stands in sixth place, will be looking forward to Porto. He won the race there last year.

Spectators will be able to enjoy the race for free from both sides of the river: in Cais de Gaia or Ribeira of Porto. Qualifying takes place on Saturday 6th September followed by Race Day on Sunday 7th September.