Australian pilot Serge Durrant has become the overall 2024 SRS series champion after the final stop in the calendar saw pilots battle it out in the skies above St André, France while Magdalena Janaway finishes the season top of the female rankings.
Neither pilots featured on the podium of the Gin edition, where the overall was won by Stanislav Klikar (CZE) with the UK’s Luke Nicol and Tom Hodgkin second and third. In the women it was Kanan Thakur (GBR) who emerged triumphant. Second and third places went to Nelissa Milfeld (USA) and Esther Dielissen (NDL).
Organisers managed to lay on three tasks ranging from 58.4km to 86.5km, despite snowfall in the northern Alps which caused mistral conditions mid-week. As a result there was no flying for two days. The final task was completed under great conditions on 15 September – a blue sky and lighter winds with climbs up to 7m/s.
Serge, who had a disappointing week finishing 21st overall, nonetheless was able to take the series win. Afterwards he thanked his team and in particular praised his coach, the former acro world champion and Red Bull X-Alps pilot Pál Takáts. “Thirteen months ago he set out a brutal training plan to get me to X-Alps 2025. The SRS series was just about improving – we never planned to win, let alone take out the season. I can’t thank you enough coach for your belief in me and your amazing coaching. This was the hardest goal of my life – so I am really stoked to have hit it.”
In the season overall rankings Paulo Silva (PRT) was second and Matias Nombarasco (GBR) third. In the women it was Summer Barham (USA) and Esther Dielissen (NLD) who followed Magdalena Janaway. Ozone Team 1 took the overall team win for the second year running.
The Sports-Class Racing Series is a series of international high-level FAI Cat 2 competitions aimed at experienced EN-B and EN-C pilots who want to compete without needing to fly an EN-D or CCC wing. The next events will be held in 2025.
RESULTS – Gin Edition, Saint-André-les-Alpes
OVERALL
- Stanislav Klikar, CZE, Merlin/Kanibal Race 2, 2151 points
- Luke NICOL, GBR, Photon/Forza 2, 2077 points
- Tom HODGKIN, GBR, Scala 2/Submarine, 2004 points
WOMEN
- Kanan Thakur, GBR, Photon/Forza 2, 1796 points
- Nelissa Milfeld, USA, Photon/Impress, 1629 points
- Esther Dielissen, NLD, Photon/Impress, 1320 points
TEAMS
- Ozone
- PHI Scala 2
- The Good, the Bald and the Ugly
RESULTS – 2024 SERIES
OVERALL
- Serge Durrant (AUS)
- Paulo Silva (PRT)
- Matias Nombarasco (ESP)
WOMEN
- Magdalena Janaway (GBR)
- Summer Barham (USA)
- Esther Dielissen (NLD)
TEAMS
- Ozone Team 1
- Team Masterclass
- Flymaster
