Air Race X to Stream Round Two with Remote Racing Format Sunday

Air Race X is set to release the second round of its 2026 season on Sunday, July 19, with a live stream starting at 12:00 UTC (8 a.m. EDT) on the series’ official YouTube channel. Rather than congregating at a single venue, the eight participating pilots will fly from their respective locations, with their performances compared through precise flight data collected during their runs. This innovative format allows the competition to continue across distances without compromising the fairness of the contest.

Each race round follows a structured flow starting with practice sessions and qualifying flights, progressing through quarterfinal, semifinal, and final matchups. Pilots are afforded two qualifying attempts, with their fastest run determining their placement in the tournament bracket. A key component of the racing setup is a remote data unit installed inside each aircraft, which records detailed metrics including the exact course flown, aircraft speed, altitude, and G-force loading throughout the runs. These data feed into time adjustments and penalty assessments during race scoring.

To address environmental variables, Air Race X applies time adjustments based on air density measurements, calculated from local temperature and atmospheric pressure near each pilot’s base. This method ensures that performance differences resulting from altitude and weather conditions are compensated. The system does not currently account for wind variance, acknowledging the challenges of equalizing that factor remotely. Pilots push their aircraft to speeds reaching approximately 250 miles per hour and endure G-forces as high as 12 Gs during intense maneuvers, showcasing the physical demands of the sport.

The origins of Air Race X trace back to a digital race held in Tokyo's bustling Shibuya district in 2023, where flight data from pilots across multiple countries was synthesized into a virtual shared race experience. This unique approach laid the foundation for the series to expand into live multi-location racing by 2024, with a three-round championship format.

Past champions reflect the series’ international reach, with Japan’s Yoshihide Muroya winning the inaugural title and South Africa’s Patrick Davidson capturing the 2025 championship. Currently, Australian pilot Aarron Deliu is leading the 2026 points tally after securing his first series win during the season opener on June 28. In that event, Martin Šonka from the Czech Republic finished second, and Muroya narrowly defeated Davidson for third place.

Heading into the second round, Muroya trails leader Deliu by eight points. The championship is slated for four races this season, with the upcoming third round scheduled for August 16 and the final concluding on September 13. The remote racing format continues to evolve as a compelling model for competitive air racing, blending technology and pilot skill in new ways.