Defending Red Bull Air Race world champion Paul Bonhomme was awarded the prestigious Segrave Trophy on Monday by Britain's Royal Automobile Club, joining a list of UK motorsport legends such as Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton and adventurer Brian Milton.
The 2009 champion is the 60th recipient of the award presented since 1930 and named after Sir Henry Segrave – a fighter pilot in World War One who later became the first British driver to win a grand prix in a British car.
"I feel incredibly proud to have been considered, let alone selected, to receive the Segrave Trophy," said Bonhomme, the most successful pilot in Red Bull Air Race World Championship history with 13 career victories. "While my efforts to point the aeroplane in the right direction were successful last year, I couldn't have done it without a skilled and enthusiastic team in Wade Hammond and Nigel Warren, who should consider this award as theirs, too."
Bonhomme, who is also leading the 2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championship after victories in Abu Dhabi and New York this year, won the title in 2009 after taking second place in both 2007 and 2008. With 12 straight podiums going back to 2008, Bonhomme has won six of the last 12 races and will be flying in his 50th race on August 7–9 at the EuroSpeedway in Lausitz, Germany. His elegant flying style through the high-speed, low-altitude racetracks has been widely admired and often copied by rival pilots.
'I feel incredibly proud to have been considered, let alone selected, to receive the Segrave Trophy' – Paul Bonhomme
The Trophy is named in honour of Sir Henry Segrave, a world land and water speed record holder who died 80 years ago, and is awarded to a British subject for outstanding achievements in transport on land, water or in the air. Segrave also set three land speed records and became the first person to travel at over 200mph (320kph). Lady Segrave presented the trophy that bears her husband’s name to the Royal Automobile Club -- to be awarded to those individuals who give the most outstanding demonstration of transport by land, air or water, and in doing so, show skill, courage and initiative – the spirit of adventure. Lewis Hamilton won the Segrave Trophy in 2007 and Milton, who made the first flight around the world by microlight aircraft, received it in 1998.
“On behalf of the Royal Automobile Club we are delighted to award the Segrave Trophy to Paul Bonhomme for his achievements in the world of aviation,” said Ben Cussons, Chairman of the Segrave Trophy Nominations Committee. “Air Racing takes incredible skill and only the best pilots in the world are capable of competing in these demanding events – it is truly Formula One in three dimensions."
Bonhomme’s name is added to the list that includes Donald Campbell, Sir Stirling Moss, Wing Commander Andy Green, World Power Boat Champion Steve Curtis, Test Pilot Group Captain John Cunningham and Concorde Chief Test Pilot Brian Trubshaw, among others.
"Paul Bonhomme’s aviation career speaks for itself and on behalf of The Royal Automobile Club I congratulate him on his achievements, but we, the members of the Segrave Trophy Nominations Committee, wanted to recognise this British world champion, and it is for this reason Paul Bonhomme is awarded the 2009 Segrave Trophy," Cussons said.
Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race
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