Drones are part of the technological development in recent years. They are used for police work, military and domestic level to deliver and receive packages. However, the Drone Racing League is also part of the 100% sustainable motor sport with exciting races that have stolen the hearts of many.
The competition consists of bringing together the best pilots to operate drones remotely, but with virtual reality glasses that immerse them deeply into the flight experience, by simulating being inside the eVTOL, and aiming to complete a challenging race as fast as possible.
The division has managed to reach several parts of the world, and when not, it stands out through the DRL Sim, a competition simulator providing realistic sensations to the league’s pilots. The drones are capable of reaching up to 90 miles per hour, requiring great driving skills to avoid crashing them on demanding circuits.
DRL has managed to reach into the homes of many people thanks to broadcast via NBC, NBCSN, Twitter, Fox Sports, Sky Sports, ProSieben and Weibo. No doubt, the fusion between technology, speed and sport has made a great impact on motorsports society, and even more so with an electrified and sustainable division.
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Active since 2016, DRL hands out more up to $1 million in prizes. During the 2020 season, it had 12 pilots competing across 16 different races, with one more complicated than the other, segmented by levels, and managing to reach platforms such as Xbox and Steam.
Drones
DRL Racer 4
The custom design offers a fast torque curve and over 1,850 G-force. Its 21 V, 2,200 mAh battery offers long flight times without stalling, and the polycarbonate propellers are virtually unbreakable.
The DRL RacerX
It has an average speed of 162.5 miles per hour (265.87 kilometers per hour). It was hand-built in New York and 3D printed using carbon fiber, copper wire and fasteners, and can generate up to 43,000 revolutions per minute.
5G Powered Racing Drone
The first Drone of the league was born in partnership with T-Mobile to deliver more than 2,400 G of thrust and kick-start the eVTOL category.
Drone Racing League Drivers
| Driver | Nickname |
| Timothy Ichiyasu | SKY |
| Blake Sams | NUBB |
| Alex Vanover | Vanover |
| Chris Spangler | PHLUXY |
| Evan Turner | HEADSUP |
| Christian Van Sloun | AMARI |
| Cory Ibañez | MEWO |
| Alex Campbell | ALEXFPV |
| Soren Monroe-Anderson | SOREN |
| Manuel García | MANNYH!MSF |
| Leon Schubert | HALOWALKER |
| Gabriel Kocher | GAB707 |
The competition is on a level playing field for all participants, meaning everyone will have identical hardware (240 Hz monitor, custom controller and headset, desktop computer, laptop).
Drone Racing League: Rules
All pilots initially undergo a qualifying round one day before the official race, which is streamed live. Each pilot will have 30 minutes to learn, practice and record their drone’s course, as well as compete to execute an optimal time that places them among the top three for direct advancement to The Finals.
The remaining seven pilots will have to fight in the semifinals. This instance will be divided into two groups. Group 1 will be made up of the drivers who finished from sixth to tenth position and will compete over three regular rounds and one Sudden Death. The top three will advance to Group 2 where they will face those who placed fourth and fifth during the qualifying round.
Now, Group 2 has five more pilots, of which three will access the Finals under the same format as Group 1 (three regular rounds and one Sudden Death). At the Finals, the six drivers who qualified will battle through five regular rounds, leaving a ticket to the Golden Heat for the winners of each series (a single driver can win more than one round, reducing the number of participants at the Golden Heat).
The Golden Heat is the final round, so whoever wins here will be the champion of the race.
Written by | Ronald Ortega
