McLeod Cruises into Japan Looking to Continue Ascent

As snowflakes fell from the sky last month at the famed Red Bull Ring, nestled near the base of the Austrian Alps, Team Garmin pilot Pete McLeod couldn’t help but be reminded of his home in Canada. But despite being more than 4,000 miles from home, he managed to make his way through round after round and advance to his first Final Four of the season. After sealing a fourth place finish at Spielberg, and a sixth place finish in Abu Dhabi in the season’s opener, the Canadian currently sits at fourth place in overall World Championship standings heading into this weekend’s Chiba, Japan race.

2015 was the inaugural season for Red Bull Air Race in Japan, and it was a hit! After enduring a typhoon and an earthquake in the days leading up to the competition, more than 120,000 fans lined Tokyo Bay to experience the thrilling display.

Pete McLeod of Canada performs during the training of the third stage of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship in Chiba, Japan on June 3, 2016.

Last season in Chiba, McLeod was eliminated by American Michael Goulian in the Round of 14, after finishing the qualifying round as the tenth seed. This year, after strong finishes in Abu Dhabi and Spielberg, can Japan be the site of McLeod’s second career race victory and first of the 2016 season? The harrowing winds from the sea will be sure to test man and machine as each pilot puts their skills to the test as they navigate Chiba’s ever-treacherous watercourse.

McLeod sits behind only Matthias Dolderer of Germany, Nicolas Ivanoff of France and Austria’s Hannes Arch in the championship standings. The 2015 Chiba race trophy went to Briton Paul Bonhomme, who retired at last season’s conclusion – so this year’s race is up for grabs! Check out all the qualifying action beginning tomorrow, followed by the knock out rounds and Final Four Sunday at redbullairrace.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest news and updates.