Highlights Budapest Red Bull Air Race 2008

Austrian ace Hannes Arch won the Red Bull Air Race in Budapest 2008, claiming his first-ever victory, in only his second season. Britain's Steve Jones was second while compatriot Paul Bonhomme, the current leader, was third after making an error in the semi-finals. The result means Arch is now in second place in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship with three more races to go.

"It is just overwhelming, an amazing feeling," said Arch, who has had a stellar rise from rookie last year to one of this year's championship contenders. "I couldn't believe it. You have to stay focused right until the very end and now I am just really happy." Arch also had the fastest time of the day with 1:03.34 in the semi-finals.

Some 600,000 spectators lined the banks of the River Danube on Wednesday, a Hungarian national holiday, to watch the race under clear blue sunny skies.