A Racer’s Edge

Matt Hall Racing’s season of change

To be successful at the elite level of any motor sport, both the machine and the human in the seat need to be operating in unison at the edge of the envelope. This truth is appreciated by every pilot and team that travels the globe as part of the Red Bull Air Race (RBAR) circuit. And as the 2017 season dawned Australia’s own Matt Hall Racing was confronted with the reality that the machine element of their combination would not be ready in time and difficult decisions needed to be made.

Best laid plans

Over preceding seasons Matt Hall had developed a reputation for consistency, and with good reason. At the helm of his MXS race aircraft, Matt had finished second in the RBAR Championship in both 2015 and 2016. Always among the points and frequently on the podium, he had gone tantalisingly close to the title, particularly in 2015 when he was just edged out by Paul Bonhomme.