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Flying visit for Red Bull racing pilots
By Anna Davis, Evening Standard 30.07.07Thousands of people lined the Thames to watch a daredevil plane race described as a mixture of Formula One and slalom skiing.
Tony Blair and his youngest son Leo, 7, were among the 35,000 spectators watching the contest, where pilots raced at speeds up to 250mph between the Greenwich Peninsula and the Thames Barrier. Danny Jones, of McFly, was also in the crowd, alongside comedian Vic Reeves and his wife Nancy Sorrell.
American Mike Mangold won the race, beating 11 of the world's best stunt pilots. He said: "The other pilots are some of the most professional out there. It's an honour to fly with these guys."
British pilot Paul Bonhomme from Taplow, Bucks, came second, but is still leading the overall Red Bull Air Race championship after six legs.
The London leg followed races in Abu Dhabi, Rio de Janeiro, USA's Monument Valley, Istanbul and Interlaken in the Swiss Alps. The next stop in the seven-month long competition is Budapest, followed by Porto, San Diego and Perth, Australia.
The winner will be the pilot with the lowest time over all 10 legs.
This is the third World Series, and the first time London has hosted the event.
Video: Watch highlights from the Red Bull Air Race World Series here
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