Porto Race Action Video, Red Bull Air Race

Austria's Hannes Arch won his second consecutive Red Bull Air Race with a thrilling victory in Porto and Gaia in front of 650,000 spectators, beating American Kirby Chambliss and knocking Britain's Paul Bonhomme off the top of the World Championship to take the lead.

"It feels really great," said Arch, who opened up a stunning 9-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 needs one point in the final race in Perth on 1st and 2nd November to win the championship. Bonhomme would have to win the season finale and hope Arch would finish with zero points. 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."

A total of one million spectators packed the banks of the Douro River during the two days of racing making it one of the biggest crowds at a sporting event in Portugal.

"It feels like an arena here," Arch said. "You can feel the crowd's excitement." Chambliss 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."

Results Porto 2008:
01 1:07.00 Arch Hannes, AUT
02 1:08.06 Chambliss Kirby, USA
03 1:08.49 Mangold Mike, USA
04 1:08.52 Jones Steve, GBR
05 1:09.44 Lamb Nigel, GBR
06 1:09.54 Goulian Michael, USA
07 1:09.99 Besenyei Peter, HUN
08 1:12.78 Maclean Alejandro, ESP
09 1:10.69 Ivanoff Nicolas, FRA
10 1:11.46 Bonhomme Paul, GBR
11 1:16.35 Rakhmanin Sergey, RUS
12 1:16.83 Dell Glen, RSA
Track record: Hannes Arch, 1:07.00 (final)

http://www.redbullairrace.com

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Porto
• Red
• Bull
• Air
• Race
• Video
• Gaia
• Portugal
• Hannes
• Arch
• Action
• rbar08

[plane15man]

Perth as in Australia? should be a good race

[Redbullairrace]

That's right. Perth, Australia - Championship finale

[DONTtell1]

looking for friends

im on cam and bored uP

[fabiofiliperocha007]

PORTO is the most beautyfull race @

[bobbyricey]

The red bull air is sweet i went to them both times in San Diego, I live in Phoenix so, Go Kirby!!

[sunboya]

very cool!

[Yargarogoo]

America WINS we have the most people in the top 10

[ehweiner]

Gratulation Hannes und max.Respekt von Deiner Leistung....als Gleitschirm-Acropilot und Basejumper, haut Dich wohl nix mehr so schnell aus den Socken! Weiter so! Cu Mike

[zaction]

Awesome! Good to see my fellow countrymen on the podium but I am really impressed with Arch. Sad for Paul. He is very fast and just got bitten by some bad luck. The championship was almost a sure thing for him. Unless the same scenario happens but in reverse, Arch will be the champion. If Bonhomme wins and Arch gets DQ'd then Bonhomme wins the championship. A stretch but possible.