Abu Dhabi: The Red Bull Air Race Challenger Class, which started last year, created the perfect platform for Francois Le Vot to showcase his skills.
The Frenchman won the opening race of the class — which is a feeder to the top level world championship — here 12 months ago and added two more wins during the season. That was good enough to land him a seat in the Breitling Racing Team alongside world champion Nigel Lamb.
Le Vot, known as ‘Zool’, on Wednesday did the traditional recon flight in front of the UAE capital’s magnificent skyline along with American Kirby Chambliss, who won the season opener in Abu Dhabi in 2006, and reigning champion Pete McLeod of Canada.
Afterwards, Le Vot said: “It was a great experience to be challenger last year and one of the most interesting experiences of my life. It allows you to meet some of the best pilots of the world and we had some fantastic coaches. So I got some of the best advice I could get.
“After winning here, I won in Croatia and Malaysia, which was great, but towards the end I could have done better. I haven’t been able to figure out what went wrong though.
“However, I managed to gain the trust of Breitling and here I am with them.”
But Le Vot, a decorated French Air Force fighter pilot and former French national and world aerobatics champion, admitted he has his work cut out this season with so many experienced pilots gunning for the world title.
“I’m very honoured to be a part of the Breitling team but I know I have to be very cautious as I have to prove that I belong here. I have to do things in a smart way and not try to push too hard in the beginning,” he said.
“I have to get used to working with a team and my own airplane. Once I’m well versed with the tool, then I can always sharpen the edges.
“I have to be at the task at hand. I have to focus on accuracy and be relaxed and open. The most difficult thing of the switch to master class was the administrative part of it. Obviously, I know to fly and another challenging part is knowing your own aircraft.”
Veteran Lamb was full of praise for the new entrant, saying that Le Vot can make the step up with ease.
“I have seen him fly extremely well and he has made his mark in other disciplines. He knows what it takes to win and, if you have got all the package right, then you are an equal competitor.”
Qualifying for the Red Bull Air Race gets underway on Friday and the finals will be held on Saturday.
