The Horsham Flying Club confirmed on Wednesday it would host the eight International Sailplane Grand Prix.

The grand prix will pit 20 of the best glider pilots in the world against each other in a fast-paced race across 200 kilometres. 

Each race usually takes about two hours, depending on the weather conditions.

Gliding club president Arnold Niewand said the club was thrilled to be hosting a leg of the international event.

“Although we are a small club, we are thrilled to have been chosen and given this wonderful opportunity by the Gliding Federation of Australia,” he said.

 “Glider pilots will compete on a level playing field around a set course to determine who flies the fastest.

 “This event will not only showcase our club, but the city of Horsham and the entire Wimmera and the Grampians to a national and international gliding population.”

The gliders used in the race will be of the 18-litre variety.

Mr Niewand said this was the most modern type of glider on offer for pilots.

Of the 20 pilots involved in the grand prix, five will be international, and will be selected for the competition from the best pilots in the world.

The remaining 15 entrants will comprise the best pilots in Australia.

While none of the Australian pilots hail from the Wimmera, Mr Niewand expects a handful of the chosen gliders to be from Victoria. 

Mr Niewand said the event was gliding’s equivalent of formula one.

“All pilots start at the same time above the airfield, fly a set course and finish at the airfield,” he said.

“The first one to return is the winner.”    

Horsham Rural City councillor Tony Phelan said the event reflected how important and popular gliding was for people in the region. “It is a recognition of the importance that gliding has in our municipality,” he said. 

“We’ve been running gliding competitions in Horsham for nearly 50 years.

“Our gliding fraternity has an important place in the gliding world.

“It’s a tournament that will give us worldwide exposure, and will really put us on the map.

“I’d like to congratulate the young gliders of the region for their enthusiasm and commitment in getting the championships to our municipality.”

Mr Niewand said the event would be publicised through a live internet feed on the Sailplane Grand Prix YouTube site. 

Each glider will have global positioning system tracking and logging devices attached, which will be fed back to a moving map display of the contest area.

The eighth International Sailplane Grand Prix will be at the Horsham Flying Club from December 14 to 20.