Bonhomme was in Abu Dhabi again as a spectator to cheer on compatriot Jenson Button, who had clinched the F1 title in the penultimate race in Brazil, while Arch was there rooting for Germany’s Sebastian Vettel. Bonhomme and Arch both also had a closer look at Red Bull team’s set-up ahead of their spectacular one-two finish under the lights in Abu Dhabi – Vettel secured his fourth victory of the season to clinch second place overall while Australia’s Mark Webber took second.
 

Two Brits on top, German-speakers runners-up

“It’s interesting but also coincidental,” Bonhomme said when asked why two Brits won both F1 and the Red Bull Air Race World championship this year. He was then asked if it were also “just a coincidence” that two German speakers – Vettel and Arch – were runners-up in the two sports. “Now that’s more fun,” Bonhomme said. “Let’s hope it something like that again next year!”
 

For Arch, who is also sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, it has always been a special place. In 2007 it was his first race in the Red Bull Air Race, in 2008 he got the first of 11 career podiums, and in 2009 he dominated the race to get his third career win.
 

“It’s incredible to see what has been created here over the course of the last few months,” said Arch, who in April had taken a high-speed, low-altitude flight together with former F1 driver David Coulthard over the F1 track at the Yas Marina – Coulthard flew in an accompanying two-seater with Media Pilot Sergio Pla. “Back in April it was still a construction site but now everything is finished and it looks fantastic.”
 

Arch had the chance to talk to a number of the F1 drivers before and after the race. “All of the drivers have been saying that it is a great track to race on,” he said. “The same goes for me every time I come to the Red Bull Air Race in Abu Dhabi. It’s a really unique circuit. Vettel and Webber taking first and second in the race was, of course, fantastic for everyone including me. And we made sure that we celebrated that properly.”
 

Getting ready for 2010

Bonhomme has also done well in Abu Dhabi with three podiums in the last three years - 3rd in 2007, 1st in 2008 and 2nd in 2009. In the first two years he was back in the pack here with 6th in 2005 and 7th in 2006.
 

“It’s great to be back in the UAE and great to be at such an event as a spectator, which is so much more relaxing than being here as a competitor,” said Bonhomme – this time just another face in the F1 crowd that was similar in size to the crowd for the Red Bull Air Race. “Having said that, I can’t wait to get racing again.”
 

Bonhomme said that he was impressed with the size and coordination of the teams in the pit lane and believes there are some areas where the Red Bull Air Race can benefit from the longer Formula One tradition.
 

“F1 has so much more history than the Red Bull Air Race so there is bound to be areas which we could learn from,” he said. “My main impression is always that there are huge numbers of people in each garage and that they work together as a well-prepared team. As in the Red Bull Air Race, that teamwork is vital for success.”
 

Bonhomme said he was also happy to see Arch – and trade a few barbs. “We talked about the F1 way of doing things, and talked about the similarities between F1 and the air race,” he said. “Of course, there was also some leg-pulling too.”
 

Both Bonhomme and Arch agreed that being back in Abu Dhabi served to whet their appetites for the 2010 season. “I’m itching to get back into the cockpit in 2010,” Bonhomme said. Arch said he is going to jump back into his full training mode for the 2010 season soon after a short holiday.