More Information About This Racing

The Grand Prix is an exciting, pure racing event, loved by all who have experienced the one on one competition that demands maximum performance over the entire race in order to determine the overall winner.

This is best described by Ben Flewett, the NZ pilot who won the Omarama GP Qualifier in January and will therefore be competing in the world championships at Omarama in 2007. Ben also took home a $10,000 cheque as his prize for this event. (See Bens full and exciting article in the April/May edition of Gliding Kiwi)

“The Grand Prix competition format will revolutionise gliding. Why? Simple. It's all about racing – fast and furious. Flying consistently, and hoping to float to the top doesn't work! Grand Prix racing puts the fun back in competition gliding! Given the choice of flying a traditional competition and a Grand Prix format competition, I would choose Grand Prix every time.

From the moment the start gate opens you can see exactly where you stand. Finishing only a split second behind someone else can cost you 10% of the available points (20% if the pilot in front finishes first for the day).

If you have a glider above you, you have to do something about it – cruising home a few seconds late costs too much. Seconds of delay and indecision can cost you a place and points. This makes for exhilarating racing, particularly in the later stages of the task, as pilots try different tracks and tactics to catch the pilot in front.”

How the race is run

    1. A task, typically 2-3 hour in duration and between 200 and 400 km in length is set.
    2. All gliders start at the same time (similar to a yacht race).
    3. The gliders must cross the short start line not above a set height and not faster than a set maximum speed.
    4. The start/finish line is generally close to the airfield so that it can be observed by spectators.
    5. Gliders race around the task. No team flying is permitted. The first one home wins as they all started at the same time.
    6. A place scoring system is used, with 1 point for every finisher you beat, plus a bonus point for coming home first. (similar to a Motor Grand Prix).

Tactics

    1. Fly as fast as you can
    2. Flying around the task with the gaggle is not really a good move. If you come home only a few seconds behind the group, you could lose many points.
    3. The aim is to be in front at the finish, so making the odd tactical move can mean a big difference in results

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