Goulian competing at the 2014 Red Bull Air Race in Texas. Photo courtesy: Red Bull Content Pool.
With only two races left in the 2015 Red Bull Air Race World Championship season, American pilot Michael Goulian will finally be contending in U.S. airspace this weekend, as the series returns to Fort Worth before October’s season finale in Las Vegas. For Massachusetts-born Goulian, it’s time to do what folks in The Lonestar State are famous for: He’s ready to take a stand.
Goulian comes into the Red Bull Air Race at the Texas Motor Speedway this weekend (September 26 – 27) energized and motivated, after problems with his instrumentation thwarted his charge toward the Final 4 in Spielberg, Austria.
“Spielberg was very frustrating – it still makes me mad thinking about it,” says Goulian, a pilot known for being anything but temperamental. “There has been a lot of work done to the airplane to repair the issues, and we think they are fixed. We all arrived in Texas five days early to make sure the plane was repaired.”
While Team Goulian is excited to race in the USA, the main objective is jumping up from a 10th place standing overall. The team has big plans for race plane modifications in the rapidly approaching off-season. In the meantime, however, Goulian does not intend to let anything get in the way of going for the podium at Texas Motor Speedway – which means going big despite the potential distractions and pressures of local friends, fans and media.
Goulian, who scored a major triumph at the 2009 stop in Budapest, agrees: “I’m sure there will be a lot of friends here, but I’m already engrossed in my ‘process’ of race week, and nothing changes just because we’re at home. I love it – the challenge is awesome, and after the race, then it’s party time!”
“Yesterday we flew our planes into Texas Motor Speedway, one of the most traditional race tracks in the country. The stage for NASCAR and IndyCar this place just breathes speed! It’s just perfect for an air race. We’re in the track Friday for the official practice sessions.”
The action in Fort Worth begins with Qualifying on Saturday, September 26, followed by Race Day on Sunday. In the US you can watch the live ticker at RedBullAirRace.com. Outside the US you can watch the race live.
Qualifying: Saturday, Sept 26th / 4:00 PM local time (23:00 CEST/21:00 UTC)
Race: Sunday, Sept 27th / 1:00 PM local time (20:00 CEST/18:00 UTC)