Mon, Nov 20, 2006
Benenyei Takes First In Race
In one of this year's most dramatic results, American pilot
Kirby Chambliss won the Red Bull Air Race World Series on Sunday
despite a third place finish at Perth. Hungarian pilot Peter
Besenyei claimed victory in the final leg of the competition as
300,000 spectators looked on from the banks of Perth's Swan River
in Australia.
With a total of 34 points in the run-up to today's race,
Chambliss was the odds-on favourite and was well ahead of his
rivals winning by 38 points overall. With a Series win all but
guaranteed, Chambliss played it safe and flew into easy victory
behind Besenyei and Britain's Paul Bonhomme, who fulfilled his
ambitious goal of a podium finish.
"The chance for the title was very slim and that's why I didn't
think about it," said Besenyei. "Victory in the season finale means
a great deal to me. Seeing the hundreds of thousands of fans along
the Swan River was an incredible experience, especially from the
sky."
"Winning the Red Bull Air Race World Series has become my
crowning achievement", said Chambliss. "There's just no other
series like it in aviation sport."
Besenyei finished in 02:39.78, followed by Bonhomme in 02:40.37
and Chambliss in 02:42.24. It was Besenyei's second win of the
season after his first place finish in Barcelona in May.
Flying just metres above the water and under a clear blue sky,
the pilots flew at speeds of over 215 knots while negotiating a
series of inflatable air gates in front of the cheering crowds.
It was an outstanding end to an exciting season that has
attracted and thrilled more than 6 million spectators worldwide to
watch eleven of the world's best race pilots compete in
challenging, high-speed and one-of-a-kind courses.
ANN congratulates Kirby Chambliss and his team in winning this
year's Red Bull World Series!
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