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!

FMI: www.redbullairrace.com