After 10 Seasons, Besenyei Retires From Red Bull Air Race, The Motorsports Series That He Helped Develop

Red Bull Air race informs us that Hungary's Peter Besenyei, one of the most successful pilots in the history of the Red Bull Air Race with eight career victories, announced last Sunday that he was retiring from the sport he helped develop in 2003.

Besenyei, 59, won the title in the inaugural season in 2003 and has been a driving force behind its growth through his 10 seasons of high-speed, low-altitude racing.

"I've been flying for a long time, since the very beginning of the Red Bull Air Race, and I made a decision a few days ago that this will be my last season," said Besenyei, a fierce competitor who has enjoyed a total of 22 podiums in his career. "I'll be more focused on my family, and flying more air shows," he added.

Besenyei completed all ten seasons and ended his sterling career after his 66th race at the end of the 2015 season. One of Hungary's most famous athletes, Besenyei was a driving force and one of the founding fathers who helped develop the concept of the Red Bull Air Race. Besenyei also gained worldwide fame in 2001 for flying upside down under the Chain Bridge in Budapest, an iconic landmark that spans the Danube River.

"It's an amazing event and I'm really happy to see how successful it has become," said Besenyei. "My heart will always be with it but not as a competitor anymore."

Besenyei was also a driving force in helping Budapest stage the Red Bull Air Race eight times in ten seasons. The Hungarian capital, with its enthusiastic crowds watching the action from the banks of the Danube, shares the record for hosting the most number of races, along with Abu Dhabi. The starting line for the Red Bull Air Race in Budapest is underneath the Chain Bridge, a tribute to Besenyei that makes the race in Hungary one of the most spectacular on the calendar.

We at ANN bid him well and look forward to seeing his upcoming airshow performances.

(Image provided by Red Bull Air Race)

FMI: www.redbullairrace.com/