Over 50,000 spectators attended the global motorsport’s competition in 2007, lining the banks of the river to watch the world’s best pilots race against the stunning backdrop of the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf and the Greenwich Peninsula which is dominated by one of London’s most recognized landmarks, The O2.The London race track is very technical and features more Air Gates (23) than any other race this season, making for a demanding course that will require pilots to be on constant alert to avoid penalties.At the midway point of the 2008 season, Britain’s Paul Bonhomme retains a commanding lead with 35 points, having won three of the last four races, followed by Austrian Hannes Arch (29 points) and American Kirby Chambliss (27 points). Last year, American Mike Mangold won the London race, a victory which helped propel him towards the championship title. Bonhomme just missed out on becoming World Champion in 2007 and is determined not to let that happen again. Despite his 6-point lead, he’s not even thinking about ordering the champagne. “It’s not over yet,” he said. “Any one of the 12 pilots could still win the race. I’m not going to relax one bit.”The recent race in Rotterdam saw two British pilots on the podium. Bonhomme, from Cambridgeshire won the race and Steve Jones from Gloucestershire had his first podium of the season coming in third, a great result for the British pilots ahead of London.The London Red Bull Air Race will be a carbon neutral event and has the backing of the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, as well as the Metropolitan Police and the boroughs of Greenwich, Newham and Tower Hamlets – all of whom are looking forward to bringing an international sporting event to this area of the Capital. The Mayor of London said: “I am delighted that the Red Bull Air Race is returning to London. Last year’s race, set against some of the capital’s most iconic riverside architecture, was a major success and this year promises another exhilarating aerial competition.”Check out the video of last year’s Red Bull Air Race Swiss leg. (Source: Event’s PR)