ABU DHABI, 19 March 2006 — American Kirby Chambliss won the opening event of the Red Bull Air Race Series held here yesterday. The second and third positions went to the event’s favorite and reigning champion, American Mike Mangold, and Hungarian Besenyei Peter respectively.
“I’m delighted at the outcome, but the challenge remains ahead as more races have to be held worldwide,” said Kirby.
Similar sentiments were expressed by the other pilots, although they said they could have done better. Mangold looked a little disappointed. “I hope to do well in the remaining rounds,” he said.
In all, 11 world-class aerobatic racing pilots on board their 11 aircraft took part in an a little more than an hour’s worth of breakneck maneuvers at breakneck speed.
Race One of the Red Bull Air Race World Series 2006 kicked off at 3 p.m. The race started with a Formula One speedboat show and a flyover by the Czech Republic’s Flying Bulls. This was followed by the Air Race pilots taking to the air at 4.45 p.m.
Reigning Air Race World Series Champion Mike Mangold of the United States remained the hot favorite, although he met strong challenges here this time from fellow Americans Kirby Chambliss, who was the first on the starting lineup, and Michael Goulian as well as Alejandro Maclean of Spain.
The Abu Dhabi Air Race held in April 2005 is remembered for its result with Peter Besenyei winning the title in a most convincing fashion. Runner-up was Steve Jones with Mike Mangold in third and Nicolas Ivanoff in fourth place. Besenyei is connected with the bird of the air face, which combines the marriage of flying and motor sports, invented and conceived by Red Bull.
The race had its world premier in 2003 in Zeltweg, Austria, with six pilots. The very first Red Bull Air Race World Series took place in 2005 in which 10 pilots battled it out in seven riveting races.
