The Red Bull Showrun in Athens turned Tatoi Airport into a full-throttle arena of speed, skill, and pure adrenaline for an unforgettable weekend. This series is one of my favorite events to photograph, Greece is always a beautiful place to be, and this edition was nothing short of spectacular. Legendary, even (pun intended).
Red Bull Showrun is a motorsport spectacle that showcases Red Bull Racing F1 cars performing thrilling stunts on city streets. But the adrenaline rush doesn’t stop there. Each edition features a mix of motorsport disciplines, and in Athens, the show extended into the skies with breathtaking aerial aerobatics.
This perfect fusion of motorsport and aviation created an electric atmosphere for photography, where the action surrounded me from all directions. It also challenged me to bring my A-game and draw on my experience capturing both ground and aerial sports.
Thousands of fans gathered to witness a dynamic showcase featuring the championship-winning RB7 Formula 1 car – the very car in which Sebastian Vettel secured his 2nd consecutive world title. Former F1 driver Patrick Friesacher of Austria lit up the track with high-speed runs, tire-smoking burnouts, and signature donuts that thrilled the crowd.
Drifting maestro “Mad” Mike Whiddett shredded tires in his flame-spitting Mazda RX-7 “HUMBUL,” leaving the audience in awe with his control and precision. That kind of showmanship is expected from one of the sport’s most iconic ambassadors, hailing all the way from New Zealand.
As smoke lingered in the air, Ireland’s Josh McErlean, former Junior Rally Champion and WRC driver, brought rally spirit to the tarmac with his Ford Puma Rally1. His performance was a showcase of raw power and agility, and a nod to the grit of rally racing.
And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, three-time MotoGP champion Dani Pedrosa took to the track. Riding his Red Bull KTM RC16, Pedrosa captivated the crowd with pinpoint stunts, precision cornering, and the calm confidence that earned him a place in the MotoGP Hall of Fame.
This edition was quite special because the action didn’t stop on the ground – the skies came alive too. Austria’s legendary helicopter pilot Siegfried “Blacky” Schwarz defied gravity with jaw-dropping mid-air stunts in his Flying Bulls helicopter. A trailblazer in helicopter aerobatics, Schwarz is a two-time gold medalist at the FAI World Helicopter Freestyle Championships and an icon at international air shows.
Then came Dario Costa, another legend of the skies. Flying his Zivko Edge 540, the Italian pilot wowed the crowd with precision flying and his signature aerobatic moves. From flying solo at age 16 to becoming the first Italian to win the Red Bull Air Race, Costa’s career is a series of world-firsts. Most notably, he set a Guinness World Record by flying through two highway tunnels in Istanbul and, in 2025, became the first pilot to fly down Austria’s legendary Streif ski slope at 350 km/h.
From a photographer’s perspective, this event was equally exciting and challenging. The non-stop action left no room for pause, which meant every shot had to count. My experience helped from planning the shoot and selecting locations to choosing the right lenses for fast-paced motorsport and aerial scenes.
Motorsport is one of my favorite things to capture, and you already know how much I love aircraft and aerial stunts. In between the action, I also enjoy documenting behind-the-scenes moments – athletes prepping, the crowd’s excitement, and the emotional energy pulsing through it all. And of course, there’s Greece. With sun, sea, souvlaki, and good people what more could you ask for?