Matt Hall is the only Australian pilot in the Red Bull Air Race, the fastest motorsport series in the world. The former RAAF fighter pilot had a decorated military career before moving into competitive air racing against the best airmen on the planet. This media guide is a handy tool to get to know Matt, his Matt Hall Racing team and the Red Bull Air Race for the 2015 season that will feature 14 pilots in races in Abu Dhabi, Chiba, Sochi, Budapest, Ascot, Spielberg, Dallas/Fort Worth and Las Vegas.

1. 2015 Red Bull Air Race
MATT HALL RACING
www.matthallracing.com
http://www.redbullairrace.com
www.redbullairracenewsroom.com
Team Guide

2. CONTENTS
[10-11] The Team
[12] Matt’s RBAR History
[13] 2015 RBAR Schedule
[14] 2015 MHR Results
[15] 2014 RBAR Standings
[16-19] How It Works
[20] Contact Details
[03] Matt’s Welcome
[4] Fast Facts
[5-6] Flying History
[7-8] Timeline
[9] The Aircraft

3. WELCOME
G’Day and welcome to the Matt Hall Racing Team Guide for the 2015 Red Bull Air Race World Championship!
Here we go again with the world’s fastest motorsport series, the planet’s best pilots and some of the most
amazing sights across the globe….and I can’t wait.
Who wouldn’t want to compete at the highest level their field offers - in stunning cities like Abu Dhabi, Chiba,
Rovinj, Budapest, Ascot, Spielberg, Dallas/Fort Worth and Las Vegas.......how awesome.
This will be my fourth year having the privilege of competing in the Red Bull Air Race and I am hoping it will be
my most fruitful yet.
In 2009, my first year on the circuit, I became the first rookie to finish a race on the podium and ended the
season in third overall, another rookie first. In 2010 I flew to my best ever result – a second in front of a home
crowd in Perth and then last year I climbed onto the podium twice.
Each of those three years there have been many highlights like those listed above but I am missing what we are
all lining up to achieve – a race win. I cant guarantee that will change this year but what I can say for certain is
my team and I will be doing everything we can to change that!
Bring on 2015, thanks for the support and I look forward to catching up during the year.
Matt

4. MATT HALL FAST FACTS
Full name: Matthew David Hall Date / Place of Birth: 16 September 1971 / Scone, NSW,
Australia Current residence: Newcastle, NSW, Australia Family: Wife Pedita, son Mitchell,
stepson Cameron and stepdaughter Amelia Usual race weight / Height: 69 kgs / 173cm Years
flying as at 2015: 41 since first flight with father, 29 since beginning training in gliders and
28 since getting glider license Previous jobs: RAAF Fighter Pilot, Fighter Combat
Instructor Military rank: Wing Commander
Role models: Nigel Lamb
Aviation mentors: Bob Hoover, Sean Tucker, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith
Favourite place to race: Australia Favourite place to vacation: Australia (home!!) Favourite
food: Curry Favourite drink: Water, White Wine and Red Bull
Favourite music: 80's Rock What’s on your ipod right before you fly: Black Eyed Peas
Three people i’d like to meet: Jon Bon Jovi, John Glenn, The Queen
In three words describe the Red Bull Air Race: Spectacular, Exciting, Professional

5. FLYING HISTORY
The Pilot
Matt Hall is a third generation pilot, a former RAAF
Fighter Combat (Top Gun) Instructor, international
unlimited aerobatic competitor and in 2009 became
not only the first Australian to ever compete in the Red
Bull Air Race World Championship but also the first
Rookie to finish a Red Bull Race and indeed the entire
season on the podium.
Flying History
Matt has a long history in the air, beginning flying with his
Dad from an early age, making his first solo flight at age 15
in a glider, before gaining his aircraft pilot's licence at the
age of 18. Now licensed in gliders, ultralights, hang gliders,
powered aircraft, helicopters and Military Jets, Matt has
over 5500 hours in various aircraft types.
He is passionate about general aviation and light aircraft,
having owned nine aircraft - a Mustang P-51D, a Vans RV-4,
an Acrosport II bi-plane, a Cherokee 180C, a Giles 202, a
Debonair, a Super Cub, and Extra 300L and his 2014 Race
Plane – the MXS-R.

6. FLYING HISTORY(cont.)
Military Career
Following in the footsteps of his grandfather who flew in World
War II, Matt is a former Royal Australian Air Force Fighter Pilot,
with over 1800 Hornet hours.
He was an elite Fighter Combat (Top Gun) Instructor, and in 2006
completed a tour as the chief instructor for this demanding
course. He has received many awards along the way, including
Dux of Pilot, Hornet and Fighter Combat Instructor courses, the
1997 Fighter Pilot of the Year and was awarded a Chief of Air
Force commendation for his performance as the Chief Instructor
of the 2006 FCI course.
He spent three years in the USA on a USAF exchange program,
flying over 500 hours in the F-15E Strike Eagle, including combat.
For his efforts, he was awarded combat decorations by both the
US and Australia. Matt resigned from the RAAF in 2009 to allow
him to become a full time Race Pilot.
Aerobatic History Matt has been flying aerobatics for many years, becoming more serious about competition and
display aerobatics whilst on his USAF exchange. He travelled widely to air shows, fly ins and aerobatic competitions
and was coached and mentored by many of the top US competitors and performers. In his first few years of
competition Matt won the US East Coast Aerobatic Championship at the Sportsman level, the NSW State Aerobatic
Championships at Intermediate level and the Australian Aerobatic Championships at the Advanced level, his first
Nationals and Advanced competition. In April 2007 Matt moved up to Unlimited and competed at the Australian
National Aerobatic Championships, placing second overall, but first in Freestyle.

7. TIMELINESep 1971: Born in Scone, NSW, Australia to
parents Rohan and Lesleigh and sister
Kerri on 16 September
Dec 1973: First flight with father Rohan
Dec 1986: First solo flight in a L13 Blanik Glider
at age 15
Jan 1989: First Solo in a Drifter Ultralight at
age 17
Dec 1989: Completed High School at Morisset
High School
Apr 1990: Obtained aircraft pilot's licence
aged 18
Jan 1991: Joined the Royal Australian Air
Force as an Officer Cadet based in
Point Cook, Victoria
Apr 1991: Undertook 159 Pilots course
Jul 1992: Graduated as Dux of 159 Pilots
course, posted to Jet Fighters
Dec 1997: RAAF Fighter Pilot of the Year
Jun 1999: Graduates as Dux of 26 Fighter Combat
Instructor Course
Jan 2002: Began exchange with US Air Force to
fly and instruct on the F-15E Strike Eagle
Mar- Apr 2003: Flew in combat with USAF in the Middle
East
Oct 2003: Won the US East Coast Aerobatic
Championship at the Sportsman level
Feb 2004: Engaged to fellow RAAF Officer, Pedita
Rowe, on the hill of the site of the first flight
in history, Kittyhawk NC.
Jan 2005: Returned to Australia following USAF
Exchange
Apr 2005: Married fellow RAAF Officer, Pedita
Aug 2005: Son Mitchell was born
Jun 2006: Awarded a Chief of Air Force commendation
for work as the Chief Instructor of the
2006 FCI course

8. TIMELINE Apr 2009: Made his RBAR debut in Abu Dhabi
Sep 2009: Became the first Rookie pilot in history to win a
place on a RBAR podium when he was third in
the race in Porto, Portugal
Oct 2009: Made history by ending his Rookie RBAR season
in the top three places in the overall standings
Apr 2010: Finished second in the Perth round of the RBAR
Aug 2010: Finished third in the Lausitz round of the RBAR,
ending the season ranked seventh despite
missing two rounds
Mar 2011: Displayed at the Australian International
Airshow at Avalon
Oct 2011: Displayed at the Bathurst 1000 V8 Supercars
event, Australia’s most famous car race
Mar 2012: Displayed at the Melbourne Formula 1 Grand
Prix taking off from a makeshift runway for
'Impossible Airfield'
Mar 2013: Displayed at the Australian International
Airshow at Avalon
Jun 2013: Aviation Director for the Blue Mountains
Bicentenary Flyover
Feb 2014: Returned to the Red Bull Air Race World
Championship and finished sixth with two
podiums and four Final 4 finishes
Feb 2015: Placed second in the 2015 RBAR season opener
in Abu Dhabi
Nov 2006: Travelled to Perth to watch his first ever RBAR
April 2007: Won Freestyle section of Unlimited
competition at Australian Aerobatic
Championships, placing 2nd Overall
Sep 2007: Promoted to Wing Commander
Sep 2007: Travelled to USA to compete in US National
Aerobatic Competition in Unlimited
Nov 2007: Offered opportunity by Red Bull to participate
in a series of elite Training Camps under former
world champion Patrick Paris
Jun 2008: Finished 8th in the World Aerobatics Cup in
Prague
Jul 2008: Finished 23rd in 2008 European Aerobatic
Championships, earning a berth at RBAR
Qualification Camp
Sep 2008: Successfully completed the RBAR Qualification
Camp, becoming the first Australian to be
awarded the coveted RBAR Super Licence
Nov 2008: Selected to join RBAR World Championship
circuit for 2009

9. THE AIRCRAFT
Dimensions
Length 21.35 ft / 6.51 m
Wing Span 24.0 ft / 7.32 m
Wing Area 102.0 sq. ft / 9.48 sq. m
Height 6.0 ft / 1.83 m
Empty
Weight
1260 lbs / 572 kg
Gross Weight 1840 lbs / 835 kg
Acro Weight 1600 lbs / 726 kg
‘G’ Loading +/- 14 G
Engine 250-380 Hp
COCKPIT
Cockpit Width 23 in / 58.42 cm
Seat Back To Panel Rear 27 in / 68.58 cm
Seat Layback Angle 50 degrees reclined
Rudder Pedal Adjustment Rear 7 in / 17.78 cm
Pilot Size Range 5’2” / 1.57 m to 6’4” / 1.93 m
Pilot Weight Range Up to 290 lbs / 131.5 kg

10. THE TEAM
Name: Eric Cieslar
Role: Race Technician
Eric started working on and flying aircraft in mid
high school and hasn’t stopped since.
He has spent a lot of time restoring and
maintaining vintage and ex-military aircraft types
including but not limited to the Tigermoth, Waco,
Ryan, Harvard, Trojan, Mustang, Kittyhawk and
Vampire.
In the air he has done more hours of flying in tail
wheel aircraft types than in tricycle undercarriage
aircraft, most of which has been done in
Tigermoths, Cubs, Ryans, Harvards and the Matt
Hall Racing Extra 300L and MXS.
In what little spare time he has, Eric enjoys
playing Ice Hockey, rebuilding Jeeps and riding
motorcycles.
Name: Dave Lyall
Role: Team Coordinator
Dave is a sports mad media manager, public
relations consultant, athlete manager, journalist
and researcher who runs his own company –
Sports Communication Australia.
Dave was the Matt Hall Racing team coordinator
in 2010 and has worked with some of the most
successful sporting teams and highest profile
athletes in Australia including Olympic gold
medallists, international football players (across
several codes) and action sport stars.
Dave was a member of the 2008 and 2012
Australian Olympic Team’s media corps in Beijing
and London.
Away from work David enjoys spending time with
his wife Robyn and son Chase, going to the beach,
swimming, watching sport and sharing a cold
drink with friends and family.
Dave’s website: www.sportscomm.com.au

11. THE TEAM
Name: Peter Wezenbeek
Role: Race Tactician
Peter is an expert in data acquisition and analysis. His
first-hand experience as the Race Team Control
Systems Engineer for F1 star Fernando Alonso has
given him a unique insight into the power of data
collection. During his time in F1, Peter used test and
race data to come up with strategies to improve both
vehicle and driver performance, which contributed to
the Renault Formula 1 Team and Alonso winning two
World Championships.
In 2007, Peter moved to Australia and started his own
company WINGMATE. The company develops
electronic control systems and data recording units
used in industrial and automotive applications.
Peter is a keen private pilot and loves to fly his good
old Cherokee. Time away from the airplane is spent on
making wine and brewing beer and tasting the results
with friends.
Peter’s websites: www.wingmatecontrols.com &
www.wingmateavionics.com
Name: Shawn Matthews
Role: Team Advisor
Shawn is an experienced aviator having joined
the RAAF in 1988 where he built an impressive
career over more than two decades before
retiring as a SQNLDR in 2009 having served as
Executive Officer of 2OCU.
Along with his more than 2000 hours in the
seat of an F/A 18 where he was rated as an A
Cat fighter pilot, Shawn has extensive
experience in civillian aircraft having flown
(amongst others) an EA300L (Extra), C180
Glider Tug, C172 and C206 float planes, CJ6A
Nanchang, Super Decathlon and a Learjet
LR35/36.
When he is not sitting in the cockpit Shawn
enjoys travelling, surfing and most sorts of
physical adventure. In recent years he has
climbed the Matterhorn, ridden a motorcycle
from Ryadh to Glasgow and contested a race
running over the Alps (Germany, across
Austria to Italy).

12. MATT’S RBAR HISTORY
2009 – 3rd overall (Rookie record)
• 3rd in Porto (Rookie record)
2010 – 7th overall
• 2nd in Perth (Personal best result)
• 3rd in Lausitz
2014 – 6th overall
• 3rd in Putrajaya
• 3rd in Gdynia

13. 2015 RBAR SCHEDULE

14. 2015 RBAR RESULTS
2ND PLACE OVERALL
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Placing

15. 2015 RBAR STANDINGS
(After round 8 of 8)

16. 2015 RBAR HOW IT WORKS

17. 2015 RBAR HOW IT WORKS

18. 2015 RBAR HOW IT WORKS

19. 2015 RBAR HOW IT WORKS

20. CONTACT MATT HALL RACING
For all enquiries about Matt Hall Racing, including media requests,
please contact team@matthallracing.com.
To download this team guide on Slide Share, click here
For all you need to know about the RBAR go to www.redbullairrace.com
To download TV and web clips, audio, pics and print stories go to www.redbullairracenewsroom.com
www.matthallracing.com