First Win For Arch in Red Bull

Budapest - August 21, 2008 — The only thing certain after the Red Bull Air Race in Budapest on Wednesday is that nothing is certain. At least if you’re talking about who will be the likely champion of the Red Bull Air Race World Series. Hannes Arch of Austria won the latest race, claiming his first-ever victory, while Britain’s Steve Jones was second and compatriot Paul Bonhomme third. The win means that Arch is now in second place in the World Series standings with three more races to go, behind only Bonhomme with 45 points. Some 600,000 spectators lined the banks of the River Danube on Wednesday, a Hungarian national holiday, to watch the race under clear skies. “It is just overwhelming, an amazing feeling,” said an elated Arch. “I couldn’t believe it. You have to stay focused right until the very end and now I am just really happy.” Arch also had the fastest time of the day with 1:03.34 in the semi-finals. But the race was full of surprises. And none of them were good surprises for the competing pilots. American Mike Mangold, a former World Series champion, finished fourth overall while Hungary’s Peter Besenyei finished fifth, despite a last-minute operation to install a new engine in an effort to increase his speed. American Michael Goulian posted the fastest time in the final training session, but he finished eighth on race day. However, the biggest surprise came from 2006 World Champion Kirby Chambliss who failed to qualify for the Super Eights. He finished last in the Point One competition after he hit one of the pylons and was penalized for Incorrect Level Flying. The mistake meant he incurred a penalty of 13 seconds, placing him in last place in the Budapest race. However, he is in third place in the overall World Series standings. The next race is in Porto, Portugal on Sept. 6-7, followed by two further races in Spain and Australia. The pilot with the most points following the final race will become the 2008 world champion.

Austrian Hannes Arch celebrates his win at the Budapest Red Bull Air Race on Aug. 20. Photo courtesy Red Bull Air Race Hans Arch and his Edge 540 performed flawlessly during the Budapest Red Bull race. Photo courtesy Red Bull Air Race

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