Sept. 8, 2008 — It’s great to be on top. That’s what Austria’s Hannes Arch is thinking after winning his second consecutive Red Bull Air Race on Sunday in Porto.
The win over American Kirby Chambliss was enough to take the lead in the World Series away from Britain’s Paul Bonhomme and almost assures Arch of winning the championship title.
“It feels really great,” said Arch, who opened up a stunning nine-point lead in the penultimate race of the season. “It’s hard to believe that I just got my second victory in only my second year – and I’m so far ahead in the championship. I’m really enjoying this moment.”
Arch now leads with 54 points. Bonhomme is second with 45 and Chambliss is third with 44 points. Arch needs one point in the final race in Perth, Australia on Nov. 1-2 to win the championship. Bonhomme would need to win the season finale and Arch would need to finish with zero points for Bonhomme to win the overall series.
But Arch immediately stomped out speculation that it was in the bag: “I don’t have it yet. As we saw, Paul messed up and if the same thing happens to me in Perth everything can change. The World Championship isn’t over until Perth is finished.”
Bonhomme did indeed mess up in Porto when he was disqualified on Saturday for exceeding the maximum load factor of 12 g’s on one high-speed loop.
Chambliss said he was surprised by Arch’s sudden burst of speed in the final. “I ran a good race. I went as fast as this plane will go. I’m satisfied.”
In the Red Bull Air Race World Championship, the world’s best pilots race through a low level aerial track made up of 65-feet high inflatable pylons at speeds reaching 230 mph and pulling up to 12 g. The pilot with the most points at the end of the race season is named the world champion.
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Austria’s Hans Arch took first place in the Red Bull Air Race in Porto. It was his second first-place win and put him in the lead in the world championship series.
Photo courtesy Red Bull Air Race
Hans Arch celebrates after winning the Red Bull Air Race in Porto over the weekend. Photo courtesy Red Bull Air Race
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