Paul Bonhomme won the 2010 Red Bull Air Race season, earning the most points during an international series that was shortened by two races. American Kirby Chambliss took fourth place while Mike Goulian came in ninth.
Hannes Arch of Austria was second in the overall standings while Nigel Lamb was third. Overall points were tallied for the year after the season’s final race in Germany in early August won by Hannes Arch, with Paul Bonhomme second, and Matt Hall of Australia in third place.
Chambliss came in third in the final race of the season. “I tried to get everything I could out there today and it was pretty consistent all day,” Chambliss said. “I’m disappointed I didn’t win but we know we have a sixth-place airplane, and that’s where we ended up. We’ve had a couple of podium finishes, but we’ve struggled technically with the engine. We’ll be back to fly like hell in 2012.”
Goulian said his season was one of what-ifs. “What if our engine started in the Final Four in Abu Dhabi? What if we didn’t have oil pressure issues in Perth? What if our fancy homebuilt race engine didn’t blow up in Windsor? What if I pulled a little harder here or a little less there? What if I didn’t fly in Germany with the flu? We will never know, because that’s racing,” Goulian said.
“We all hope that the series will come back bigger and better in 2012. There is such a positive momentum in this sport that I think it should continue as it influences the lives of many people in such a good way. There are many kids dreaming of flying some day because they have watched a Red Bull Air Race,” Goulian said. Red Bull canceled the 2011 season out of concern for safety and contractual issues.
AOPA Pilot had an article on the New York Red Bull Air Race in the August issue.
The Red Bull Air Race technical director, Adrian Judd was killed in a high-speed motorcycle accident on a public road in Germany this past weekend. “In a sport where politics, money, and egos are the norm, Adrian ruled with the simple guidelines of common sense, honesty, and fairness. He was one of the stars of the Red Bull Air Race who you didn’t see flying in a race plane. But, without him, the series would have been much different. Adrian was someone I respected greatly and will miss him immensely,” Goulian said.
