Martin Šonka, a Red Bull Air Race podium regular, finishes second; Japan’s Yoshihide Muroya, chasing back the crown, takes third. Race 2 streams Sunday, July 19 on the official YouTube channel.
| No. | Pilot | Country / Base | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Aarron Deliu | Australia | 2025 debut season - finished 3rd in the series |
 |
Martin Šonka | Czech Republic | Former Red Bull Air Race World Champion |
 |
Michael Tryggvason | Canada | New for 2026 |
 |
Melissa Burns | United States | New for 2026 - first American female pilot |
 |
Juan Velarde | Spain | Former Red Bull Air Race competitor |
 |
Yoshihide Muroya | Japan/ Fukushima | 2023-2024 AIR RACE X Champion |
 |
Patrick Davidson | South Africa | 2025 AIR RACE X Champion |
 |
Emma McDonald | Australia | Competed in 2024 — first female pilot in AIR RACE X |
AIR RACE X, the pinnacle of air racing, today confirmed the official results of its 2026 season opener, held Sunday, June 28, 2026. The win went to Aarron Deliu, the rising star who made a vivid impression on his debut last season. The field behind him finished within fractions of a second, and the season is already wide open from round one. The full race is available now on the official AIR RACE X YouTube channel.
400 km/h, up to 12G — eight of the world’s best pilots competing to the thousandth of a second. This is AIR RACE X, motorsport in the sky. Race 2 flies Sunday, July 19. This season, not a single round will be one to miss.
The three pilots on the podium at Race 1 of the 2026 series ©AIR RACE X
Winner
Aarron Deliu (Australia)
A rising star who broke through immediately on his debut last season. He carried that momentum straight into the opener, posting the top time with authority.
Second
Martin Šonka (Czech Republic)
A former podium regular at the Red Bull Air Race. He had yet to find his best form in the new series — then, at the opener, he delivered the kind of time that reminds everyone exactly who he is.
Third
Yoshihide Muroya (Japan)
The veteran chasing back the crown. In the third-place match he went head to head with 2025 champion Patrick Davidson, flying a controlled run to edge it and take the podium.
A wide-open fight from the very first round. A rising star on the charge, a proven name with a point to prove, a veteran hunting back the crown — the 2026 season demands your attention from round one.
AIR RACE X 2026 series, Race 1 — Qualifying official results ©AIR RACE X©AIR RACE X
AIR RACE X 2026 series, Race 1 — official results ©AIR RACE X
AIR RACE X 2026 series standings after Race 1 ©AIR RACE X
UNLOCK is the official companion show that helps you know more and enjoy more — streaming now on the official AIR RACE X YouTube channel. Even first-time viewers will find the barrier to entry drops away the moment they watch.
Episode 1
— “What is AIR RACE X?” : the rules, the scoring, and all eight pilots explained in one place. Watch this and you have everything you need to get started.
Episode 2
— “Meet the pilots & racing the racetrack” : a full preview of the season opener, featuring rookie standout Melissa Burns and how the pilots fly the race track with markers that then become pylons in the broadcast.
Date: Sunday, July 19, 2026, 12:00 UTC (Universal Standard Time)
Stream: official AIR RACE X YouTube channel — youtube.com/@AIRRACEX
2026 season — all four rounds: Race 1 — Sun, June 28 | Race 2 — Sun, July 19 | Race 3 — Sun, August 16 | Race 4 — Sun, September 13 (all streaming on the official AIR RACE X YouTube channel).
AIR RACE X is the pinnacle of air racing — races flown live at locations around the world and brought together as a single global championship. Eight of the world’s elite pilots fly an identical racetrack from their home base, every run measured to the thousandth of a second using AIR RACE X technology. In 2026 the races run simultaneously at locations around the world — a distributed format that reduces the environmental impact of shipping aircraft from venue to venue, letting pilots race live from home, sustainably.
Redefining what’s possible. Driving the next generation. AIR RACE X is the future of motorsport.
Media contact
AIR RACE X Communications ・ info@airracex.com
For interviews and for photography and video materials, please contact the address above.
