"My Machine Is Quick"

Around 1.3 million Hungarians turned out hoping to watch their local flying hero Peter Besenyei win the Red Bull Air Race in Budapest in 2005. He didn't win, but the star-pilot of the Red Bull Air Race will be making another attempt at a home win on August 20. In an interview, Peter Besenyei explains why his chances are better this year than last, why he doesn't want to race his plane against Formula 1 cars and what he does in the last few minutes before a race.

Are you already looking forward to your home race?

I look at this race as a race like any other - the only difference is everything that goes on around the race.

What do you mean?

There's more stress. I was actually hoping to have a few days' holiday at home with my family before the race. But I have meetings for hours each day and other important appointments, which means I'll have to postpone my holiday ­- until November, until after the last race in the World Series in Perth.

One of your last commitments was a race against Formula 1 cars in the centre of Budapest.

It wasn't a race. To race against cars would be boring because a plane will always be much quicker. But it was a very interesting event for people who love loud engines: the Formula 1 cars of Robert Doornbos and Neel Jani on the streets of Budapest and me with my machine just above them. I think we created a great photo opportunity.

So let's turn now to the real race in Budapest: last year, you only finished fourth - a result with which someone like Mr. Besenyei surely cannot be happy.

Well, I was given a time penalty and that's why I didn't finish in the top three. This year, those pilots with quick planes will have a definite advantage. And my machine is quick.

In excess of a million fans are again expected to line up along the banks of the Danube. Does such a big attendance motivate you?

While I'm flying, I don't really care where I'm flying or how many spectators there are. I am one hundred percent focused on myself, my machine and the course. But before and after the race, it's really nice to see that so many people are so enthusiastic about what you do.

How do you prepare for a flight, what do you do in the last few minutes before a race?

I go through the entire course in my mind, over and over. And - and I'm not just saying this because this interview is for redbull.com - I drink a can of Red Bull. That's something most pilots do, by the way. Red Bull really does give you wings.

After four out of eight races, you are second in the Red Bull Air Race World Series standings, three points behind Kirby Chambliss. What are your chances of winning the series?

The season could have got off to a much better start, I didn't have the quickest plane in Dubai because my Edge 540 still wasn't ready at that stage. I had my machine in Barcelona and I won. I think that the series will remain a nail-biting one right up to the last minute.