Hannes Arch was declared the winner of the Red Bull Air Race in Rio de Janeiro last weekend when adverse weather conditions made it impossible to continue the racing during the Top 12 round and the results were then based on qualifying sessions.

The Austrian had won the Qualifying point. Britain's Nigel Lamb was awarded second place based on coming second in Qualifying while championship leader Paul Bonhomme was forced to settle for a disappointing third place in the third race of the 2010 season.

Heavy rain and winds swept across Rio, drenching the 250,000 spectators, during the Top 12 round that initially forced a delay of the high-speed, low-altitude flying in front of the city's Flamengo Beach with pilots in the air called back to the Race Airport.

The pilots were all hoping conditions would improve but organisers eventually decided not to continue with the Top 12 due to the inclement weather. It was only the second time that this has happened in the 46-race history of the World Championship. The last time was in Longleat, UK, in 2006.

Arch's second consecutive victory also cuts Bonhomme's championship lead to three points. Bonhomme is on 31 points after collecting nine points for his third place finish while Lamb is second on 28 points and Arch on 27 points after collecting a maxi-mum 13 points in Rio. Arch also won the last race in Perth.

"It's a good feeling to make up some points on Bonhomme," said Arch, the 2008 world champion who was clearly delighted to take home 25 of a maximum 26 points from the last two races after stumbling with an 11th place (two points) in the opening race in Abu Dhabi.

"It was an easy way to win but I'm happy to be able to catch up in the championship. It's motivating me for the season."

Bonhomme and the other pilots had all known that rain was in the forecast for Sunday even though it had been bright and sunny all week. They all put their best efforts into winning Qualifying on Saturday because they knew there was a risk that the race could not be completed.

Bonhomme was disappointed with his Qualifying run. The 2009 champion dismissed suggestions that the pressure from a resurgent Arch and vastly improved Lamb was causing him problems.

"No, not at all," Bonhomme said.

"It's a long season. We've got another five races so it should be good fun."

The next Red Bull Air Race takes place in Windsor, Canada on June 5-6.