INTERLAKEN, Switzerland, 17 July 2007 — Paul Bonhomme (GBR/Team Matador) beat Mike Mangold (USA/Team Cobra) in the 5th Red Bull Air Race World Series event of the season in Interlaken, Switzerland, on Sunday, flying through a low-level obstacle course of air gates in front of a spectacular vista of snow-capped Alpine peaks.
After his second win of the season, Bonhomme kept the championship lead with a total of 26 points followed by Mike Mangold (USA/Team Cobra) two points behind.
He completed a superb run at speeds of up to 400 kph (250 mph) with forces reaching 10G, through the course stretched out in front of the trio of famous Swiss peaks — the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau — in a time of 01:11.08 minutes.
“I didn’t feel the last run was quite as good as my previous one, but hey, it did the trick.
The wind was getting stronger during the day, very subtly. I’m very happy. The airplane’s in tip-top shape,” said Bonhomme.
In 2nd place was Mangold, who trailed by 1.79 seconds through the circuit. Some 60,000 spectators turned out to watch the weekend race held under scorching mid-summer temperatures.
In the consolation race for 3rd place, Peter Besenyei (HUN/Team Red Bull) beat Steve Jones (GBR/Team Matador).
The stop in Interlaken is the 5th leg of the 10-race Red Bull Air Race World Series.
Previous races were held in Abu Dhabi, Rio de Janeiro, Monument Valley (USA), and Istanbul.
Last year there were more than six million spectators at eight races.
Seven times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher was among the spectators watching the world’s fastest race series.
The German superstar, who lives in Switzerland, was visibly enthralled by the race.
The victory widened Bonhomme’s lead over 2005 champion Mangold ahead of the British pilot’s home race in London.
