Britain’s Nigel Lamb upset Austria’s Hannes Arch in an action-packed Red Bull Air Race
World Championship battle in the sweltering tropical heat of Putrajaya, getting an
emotional first career victory. Australia’s Matt Hall took third in the first-ever east Asia
race in the world’s fastest motorsport series.
PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia) – Arch nevertheless moved into the overall lead with 30 points after
the third round of the eight-race world championship that has stops in seven countries on three
continents. Bonhomme, who saw his string of 15 straight podiums abruptly ended, is second
overall with 25 points, while Lamb moved into third on 17 points.
Lamb, who remains hugely popular in Malaysia after touring in the tropical nation as a display
pilot for five years earlier in his career, gave his local fans watching from the shores of Putrajaya
Lake a clinical demonstration of superb flying under the humid skies. Undeterred by the
temperatures that soared into the high 30s, Lamb kept his cool flying first in the Final Four on
the high-speed, low-altitude track and stopped the clock in 1:15.023 – the fastest run of the day.
Hall came close with 1:15.691 and Arch came even closer at 1:15.597.
“I never thought I’d feel this emotion,” said Lamb, after getting six second-place finishes before
in 43 previous races in his seven-year career. “It’s a great feeling. After seven years, and all the
ups and downs, this is the payoff.”
'I have learnt a lot, to know the balance between taking risks and not risking too much. It’s a
great feeling. Thank you for all the support, it's a team effort, including Breitling and the Red Bull
Air Race organisation, it's been a fantastic race and event here in Putrajaya, it’s great to be
back in Malaysia."
Overall, the Breitling Racing Team has had a successful weekend with not only principle pilot
Nigel Lamb clinching the highly sought after Masters Cup, but also Breitling supported pilot
François le Vot taking home the Challenger Trophy. The current World Aerobatic Champion has
won three Challenger races in a row, and looks very confident in the new series introduced to
bring new pilots into the sport.
Results: 1. Nigel Lamb (GBR), 2. Hannes Arch (AUT), 3. Matt Hall (AUS), 4. Pete McLeod
(CAN), 5. Paul Bonhomme (GBR), 6. Martin Sonka (CZE), 7. Peter Besenyei (HUN), 8. Matthias
Dolderer (GER), 9. Kirby Chambliss (USA), 10. Yoshihide Muroya (JPN), 11. Nicolas Ivanoff
(FRA), 12. Michael Goulian (USA)
World Championship Standings: 1. Arch (30 points), 2. Bonhomme (25), 3. Lamb (17), 4.
McLeod (17), 5. Hall (14), 6. Sonka (8), 7, Muroya (7), 8. Ivanoff (5), 9. Dolderer (4), 10.
Besenyei (2)
About Breitling:A specialist of technical watches, Breitling has played a crucial role in the development of the
wrist chronograph and is a leader in this field. The firm has shared all the finest moments in the
conquest of the skies thanks to its sturdy, reliable and high-performance instruments. The
world's only major watch brand to equip all its models with chronometer-certified movements,
the ultimate token of precision, Breitling is also one of the rare companies to produce its own
mechanical chronograph movements, entirely developed and manufactured in its workshops.
This family business is also one of the last remaining independent Swiss watch brands.
