The competition will also return to five popular locations in its eighth season, with rounds in Abu Dhabi, Ascot, Spielberg, Fort Worth and Las Vegas.

The new 2015 Red Bull Air Race World Championship season will kick off on 13-14 February with the traditional opening round in Abu Dhabi. The inaugural race in Japan will then land in Chiba, on the edge of Tokyo Bay, on 16-17 May. The World Championship moves next to another new location in Russia, with an eagerly awaited stop in the sports-focused city of Sochi on 30-31 May. The beautiful city of Budapest in Hungary marks the start of the European leg on 4-5 July, returning to the calendar, having previously hosted seven races between 2003 and 2009.

The second half of the 2015 season begins on 15-16 August in Ascot, Great Britain, before it returns to Spielberg, Austria on 5-6 September. The season concludes with two stops in the United States – in Fort Worth in Texas on 26-27 September, followed by the season finale on 17-18 October in Las Vegas.

"We're always making efforts to bring the sport to our fans and we're delighted that we can now officially announce that Red Bull Air Race will visit two new countries in 2015. We will race in Japan and Russia, nations full of enthusiastic motorsport and aviation fans, and once again Hungary, where the Red Bull Air Race has a great fanbase," said Erich Wolf, General Manager of Red Bull Air Race GmbH.

Ticketing for the 2015 season will start on 28 November.

2015 Race Calendar:

1. Abu Dhabi (13/14 February)
2. Chiba, Japan (16/17 May)
3. Sochi, Russia* (30 /31 May)
4. Budapest, Hungary (4/5 July)
5. Ascot, Great Britain (15/16 August)
6. Spielberg, Austria (5/6 September)
7. Fort Worth, Texas, United States (26/27 September)
8. Las Vegas, Nevada, United States (17/18 October)
*To be confirmed