Red Bull Air Race: The Hungarian Grandfather

He was brought up in a time when communism was rampant and when the Berlin Wall was most strong.

He is Hungarian, and unless your name is Kellie Pickler, you would know that the country has a rich history of sportsmen from Zsolt Baumgartner, the Formula One driver, to Ferenc Puskas, possibly one of the greatest soccer players of all time.

Peter Besenyei is the 52-year old creator of the Red Bull Air Race World Series. He was first recruited by the drink company in 2001 to come work on an air racing series that would include both aerobatic and high flying.

In Hungary, he is very well known, often being stopped for an autograph or picture, something that he gladly does. However, with all that fame, he is a very down to earth person, and when I met him for an interview in Detroit, he gave me a strong handshake and introduced himself with a smile.

Peter's history in the Red Bull Air Race is a very unique one. As one of the main builders of the series, he has personally interviewed pilots to see who is qualified enough to be a pilot, and has thrown out those who were too hot-headed.

He is also the first champion of the air race and took them in style by winning both events in style.

Since then, he has been focusing on keeping the air race safe for improving the air race and keeping it as an entertaining spectacle.

Overall, Peter Besenyei is more than an air racer for Red Bull, he is the creator and grandfather of the series, and if he chooses to retire, he will be a loss to the sport.

Here's hoping to see many more performances in his Edge 540 or Extra 300SR, depending on which set of wings he chooses.

Photography Credit: Sheiban Shakeri, 2008.