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Australian pilot Matt Hall had a strong performance to finish third in the final leg of the 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championship in Lausitz, Germany, over the August 7-8 weekend, while Briton Paul Bonhomme secured the 2010 championship title.
The race was won by Austrian race pilot Hannes Arch, with Bonhomme taking second ahead of Hall in third place. Bonhomme’s compatriot Nigel Lamb finished in fourth after suffering a puncture on the runway that stopped him from taking part in the final four shootout. As a result, Bonhomme took out the 2010 championship with a total of 64 points, followed by Arch on 60 points and Lamb third on 55 points.
Hall’s third place in Lausitz moved him up one place in the overall championship to seventh. Despite a strong start to the year, which saw him place a career-best second in Perth during April, Hall’s championship was dealt a major blow after he nearly crashed into the water during the Windsor round of the race, which subsequently saw him sit out the following round in New York.
“It was a good result to top off what was an up and down year and has given me confidence again that I can match it with the best guys in the world,” Hall said. “I am looking forward to being part of the championship and improving even more when it returns in 2012.”
The Red Bull Air Race Championship will not be run next year as the organisers complete a restructuring and new safety measures are implemented. It is currently expected to return in 2012, which is also the final year it is contracted to be run in Perth. Sydney and Geelong are expected to put forward bids to host the Australian leg of the race from 2013 onwards.
