PIT LANEU-TURNracer, but he’s had to learn the hard
way what an unforgiving sport it is...
SPORT OF THE FUTURE
The best year for drone racing so far
was 2019, but 2020 is expected to be
even better. Numerous investors now
support the sport, and TV networks
worldwide have acquired the rights
to broadcast the events sponsored
by the Drone Racing League (DRL).
When the 2019–2020 Drone Racing
League Allianz World Championship
Season began in August with round
one at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium,
it was broadcast on NBC and NBC
Sports as well as Twitter. But what
makes the sport so special, and how
difficult is it to control a racing drone?
In contrast with participants in other
racing sports, drone racers have to
evade competitors not only to the left
and right but also above and below.
“The skill of the pilots is incredible,”
says Ben Johnson, spokesman and
head of communications for the DRL.“In combination with the incredibly
complex courses, that skill makes the
experience really stand apart.” Drone
racers may have to steer their aircraft
through crumbling ruins or fly at high
speed through a dense forest. Despite
the many tough obstacles they must
avoid, racing drones can reach a top
speed of 163.5 miles per hour on the
generally circular courses. Things are
particularly magnificent when races
are held at night and the high-speed
spectacle gets exceptionally thrilling.ideasanddiscoveries.com 69 May 2020