Garmin Announces Sponsorship of Red Bull Air Race World Championship
Today we are excited to announce our sponsorship with the Red Bull Air Race World Championship, including serving as the official action camera sponsor and competing in the series as Garmin Racing. The sponsorship kicks-off February 13 at the championship’s inaugural event in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where Garmin Racing pilot Pete McLeod will begin his run for the title.
This global initiative with Red Bull Air Race, the fastest motorsport series in the world, showcases the wide-range of markets Garmin serves as a leader in GPS technology, including aviation, fitness and outdoor pursuits, and particularly highlights the capabilities of the company’s VIRB Elite action camera.
As the official action camera partner of the Air Race World Championship, VIRB Elites will be used to capture compelling race footage from the cockpit with data overlays including speed, altitude, g-force and GPS location. VIRB’s high-definition videos with unique inset data will provide a complete experience of what it’s like to fly the series’ racetracks, showing the pilots in the Master Class category navigating the advanced aerial challenges at top speed. Consisting of eight races across the globe, including two in the United States, pilots attempt to complete each track in the fastest possible time with as few penalties as possible. Points are awarded at each race and the title is awarded to the pilot that secures the most total points after the last race of the season.
Garmin Racing’s Pete McLeod of Red Lake, Ontario grew up flying small float planes and playing hockey. He obtained his pilot’s license at age 16, before his driver’s license, and started aerobatics that same year, flying competition aerobatics and air show freestyle as the youngest Canadian air show performer. After earning his aerobatics instructor rating at age 18, followed by an economics degree at the University of Western Ontario, he flew air shows and competitions full time – dedicated to qualify for the Red Bull Air Race.
McLeod made history in 2009 by becoming the youngest pilot and first Canadian to compete in the elite Red Bull Air Race World Championship, in which he went on to place 5th overall in the series in both 2010 and 2014.