European Air Racing Championship

The European Air Racing Championship is a handicapped air race arranged by the Royal Aero Club Records, Racing and Rally Association.[1]

History

No sooner had aircraft developed to the stage that they would stay airborne for predictable amounts of time, than pilots had started to pit their skills and aircraft against each other both personally and on a national basis.

Schneider Trophy

Whilst the Schneider Trophy is probably the epitome of air racing involving the most technically advanced aircraft, it soon became obvious that, with so many different types in development, there would have to be some form of handicapping of aircraft to level the playing field.

King's Cup Race

The modern-day handicapped air race began in 1922 and was sponsored by King George V — called the King's Cup Race. In 1931 the rules were re-written to allow for what might be termed amateur pilots to compete and those same rules still apply today. The King’s Cup was the first and only air race to receive royal patronage.

Records Racing and Rally Association

Whilst this was a British phenomenon, the handicapping concept has been used to stage races worldwide. Especially popular in the technologically superior Europe, it became known through the Royal Aero Club Records Racing and Rally Association. This organisation runs an annual programme of 14 to 18 races at seven to nine different venues, mainly in the UK but at least two or three in Europe.

European Championship

In 2000, the organisation launched a European Championship aimed at attracting a wider audience of European competitors. This championship is run within the Royal Aero Club RRR’s normal season of races but the champion is the pilot/navigator combination that scores the highest number of aggregate points over 6 races held at 3 different venues. These venues have included the UK, France, Spain, the Channel Isles, Ireland and the Isle of Man.

Winners
YearPilotWinning Aircraft
2000Geoffrey BootBeagle Pup
2001Robert MillerSlingsby T67
2002Robert MillerSlingsby T67
2003Peter EarpBeech Baron E58
2004John KelsallRV7
2005John KelsallRV7
2006Peter EarpBeech Baron E58
2007Peter EarpBeech Baron E58
2008Alistair AllanSIAI Marchetti SF260
2009Craig BeeversSIAI Marchetti SF260
2010Robert Callaway-LewisAuster
2011Geoffrey BootSIAI Marchetti SF260
2012David MoormanCAP10B
2013Dan PangbourneGrumman AA-5B Tiger
2014John KelsallRV7
2015Bob EllisRV8
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References
  1. "Championship Tables". Britishairracing.com. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
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