Red bull air race going to Lisbon for 2010

Weeks after it was claimed the Red Bull Air Race was in jeopardy of moving to Spain, Turismo de Lisboa has signed an initial agreement with Red Bull Air Race for the event to take place over the Tagus river in 2010.

The agreement, signed on Tuesday by Turismo de Lisboa, representing Lisbon and Oeiras councils, and Red Bull Air Race, demonstrates the "desire for an international championship event to take place over the Tagus River, between Torre de Belém and the April 25th bridge, in 2010" stated the document.

After being held in Oporto for three consecutive years, Lisbon will be hoping to gather as many spectators as the Oporto event, which attracted a staggering 720,000 people to the Douro river last September.

With Lisbon Council having only confirmed on Wednesday 16th December its involvement in the event, refuting previous speculations that the event might be moving venue, it has also been revealed that Lisbon and Oeiras councils must finance Red Bull by €3.5 million.

The cities receiving the event must also "provide to the competition, free of charge, the usage of the space where the event takes place, including the areas dedicated to the planes, and a landing strip, so that test flights, training and qualifying flights can be carried out with ease."

Both councils now have until January 31st to complete a protocol which establishes the obligations and rights of the three parties involved.

Source The Portugal news