Red Bull Air Race Series results, August 20

Air Race World Series – August 20, 2005 – With the best time in both runs, American Mike Mangold took first place in Saturday’s Red Bull Air Race World Series held in Budapest, Hungary. With the victory, Mangold won his fourth race in the series.

Mangold, who has been in a tight race with Hungarian Peter Besenyei for first place in overall points, took the lead with this race. Now in first place with 30 points, Mangold is closely followed by Peter Besenyei with 28 and American Kirby Chambliss with 16.

Mangold had two nearly perfect runs and was the only pilot to end the day with no penalty points. Coming in behind him was Chambliss and Paul Bonhomme of Great Britain.

Crowd favorite and native Hungarian Peter Besenyei was noticibly missing from the top three contenders. As he flew under the Chain Bridge, he exceeded the speed limit and acquired two penalty seconds. The first round mistake meant he had no chance at first place and he struggled to end the day in fourth place.

August 20 Results, Budapest

6th Race – Budapest, Hungary

Place Name Total Time

Mike Mangold (USA) 2:13.81

Kirby Chambliss (USA) 2:20.42

Paul Bonhomme (GBR) 2:25.04

Peter Besenyei (HUN) 2:25.12

Klaus Schrodt (GER) 2:26.26

Steve Jones (GBR) 2:27.93

Nicolas Ivanoff (FRA) 2:28.91

Nigel Lamb (ZIM) 2:40.93

Alexander MacLean (SPA) 2:44.72

Mangold, ecstatic with his performance, described his race to Red Bull saying, “Wonderful, that’s exactly how I planned it. A clean run, without penalties – I didn’t expect many to get through the very difficult course here without incurring penalty seconds.”

This race drew a record number of spectators, with 1.2 million people in attendance. With six races behind them, the only event left for the pilots this year is the final race, which will be held in San Francisco on Oct. 8. Following the conclusion of that race, the 2005 Red Bull World Champion will be crowned.

The Red Bull Air Race at Longleat

What are the Red Bull Air Races?

Nine pilots from around the world are pitting their skills against each other for a chance to be known as the best of the best.

It’s the 2005 Air Race World Series, a new chapter in the Red Bull Air Races that is taking these seasoned pilots to seven cities in three continents to strut their stuff.
Withstanding forces up to 10 Gs (or 10 times the force of gravity!), the thrilling air races have taken the sport of aerobatics to a new level and new audience.
The concept of air racing dates back to the early years of aviation, but it took former world aerobatic champion Peter Besenyei, who is also competing, to come up with the idea for today's air races. Unhappy with the way most aerobatic competitions are scored, these pilots are really judged by a stopwatch, eliminating inconsistencies in scoring.

There have been eight air races - two in 2003, three last year and three this year. The races are sponsored by Red Bull Energy Drinks.

Can’t make any of the races in the World Series?

Then do the next-best thing — visit the Red Bull Copilot website

Meet The Pilots

American Mike Mangold is a five-time Unlimited Aerobatics Champion of California, a two-time Unlimited Aerobatics Champion of Arizona, US and World Champion and has won other awards. He is also a commercial pilot, flying a Boeing 767.

American Kirby Chambliss of Flying Crown Ranch, Ariz. is a four-time U.S. National Aerobatic Champion and 2000 World Champion. Chambliss won both the Budapest and Gloucestershire Red Bull events in 2004. A Southwest Airlines 737 captain and air show pilot, he performed at EAA AirVenture 2005.

Great Britain’s Paul Bonhomme is the winner of one silver and three gold medals in the FAI World Grand Prix series as a member of the “The Matadors.” He also is a 747 captain for British Airways.

Hungarian Peter Besenyei is a two-time winner of both the FAI World Grand Prix series and the World Aerobatics Championships. He invented the Red Bull Air Race and won the first race.

Germany's Klaus Schrodt is winner of the 2002 FAI World Grand Prix series, 2001 Freestyle World Aerobatics Champion, five-time German Aerobatics Champion and two-time European Freestyle Aerobatics Champion. He’s also crossed the Atlantic solo in a sailboat — three times.

Englishman Steve Jones is the 1995 UK Freestyle Aerobatic Champion, 1996 Overall British Aerobatics Champion, winner of one silver and three gold medals in the FAI World Grand Prix series as a member of “The Matadors,” flying with friend Paul Bonhomme. He also is a 747 captain with British Airways.

Nicolas Ivanoff is the 2004 French vice champion in Unlimited Aerobatic and the 2000 World Aerobatics Champion with the French Aerobatics Team. He also teaches flying.

Spaniard Alexander MacLean is a two-time Spanish Aerobatics Champion and winner of the 1998 Lithuanian Aerobatic Championship. When he’s not flying, he makes films.

Dutchman Frank Versteegh is the Dutch Unlimited Aerobatics champion and competed in the World and European championships from 1982-94. He is also a FAI judge, flight instructor and air show organizer.

July 24 Results
Rock of Cashel

Peter Besenyei, Hungary, 1:09.25
Nicolas Ivanoff, France, 1:11.97
Paul Bonhomme, Great Britain, 1:13.37
Klaus Schrodt, Germany, 1:16.11

August 7 Results
UK Longleat

Mike Mangold, USA, 2:54.70
Kirby Chambliss, USA, 2:57.69
Peter Besenyei, Hungary, 2:59.83
Klaus Schrodt, Germany, 3:01.40

Next Race:
October 8
San Francisco

For More Information
Red Bull Air Races
Kirby Chambliss Home Page
Mike Mangold's Home Page
Paul Bonhomme and Steve Jones' Home Page
What is a ‘g’?

All photographs are courtesy of Red Bull Photofiles