Tauranga's David Wainwright is currently in America defending his 2015 Icarus Trophy title in what is billed as 'the World's Toughest Air Race”.

The Icarus Trophy is a 1700km, unsupported cross-country paramotor race covering four states, starting in Montana and ending in Nevada.

Tauranga's David Wainwright is in America defending his 2015 Icarus Trophy title. Supplied Photo.

Last year David took out the Seattle to Sacramento race after navigating 1200km on a motorised paraglider ahead of 20 other competitors.

This year's race takes place in more difficult terrain. Competitors have two weeks from October 2 to fly the distance, landing and refuelling at their own discretion.

Last year David covered an average of 400 miles a day. This year he's flying light, with just a litre of water, credit card, and the clothes on his back.

In a video interview for the Icarus Trophy website, he provides some details on his first day of the race.

'It was off to a good start. We had a little bit of a headwind there at times, but I was making good speed, averaging 70 or 80km an hour. We didn't make it as far as what we hoped. I decided to stop 20km short at a fuel station, rather than stretch my current fuel out, in case we got another headwind.”

David has covered about 350km so far, although he has been held up by bad weather.

Speaking to SunLive, he says the course is almost twice the distance of last year's, and at a much higher elevation, which makes launching very difficult.

'But I think I have a good chance to win again this year.”

Follow David's progress at the Icarus Trophy website www.icarustrophy.com/follow-live