Rovinj, Croatia, Braces for Red Bull Air Race

With fine weather forecast for the weekend, the Red Bull Air Race is set to kick off on Saturday in the old town of Rovinj on the western side of Croatia's Istrian peninsula.

Sponsored by the world-famous energy drink Red Bull, the two-day event, running for only the second time in Rovinj, is a part of an eight-race world championship for acrobatic pilots.

The 14 pilots are competing to perform complex air manoeuvres and stunts while trying to be the fastest in crossing 25-metre-high pylons. The show will be seen by 35,000 fans.

A novelty this year is a stand by the airfield in the nearby town of Vrsar, from where the planes will take off.

Over the weekend, spectators will have a chance to watch the pilots train, including a "master class" for pilots. A special competition Challenger Cup will also take place.

Besides races, parachute stunts and flights by the "Flying Bulls" and "Wings of the Storm", stunt teams will perform for the visitors.

This year's competition is likely to be tight, so that the winner of both the race and the championship in the master class category are totally unpredictable.

Last year's winner, the Austrian Hannes Arch, hopes win again, and has brought with him many of his fans from his native city of Salzburg.

The Red Bull Air Race has been running for ten years and includes eight races in the United Arab Emirates, Austria, Hungary, Japan, United Kingdom and the US.