Source: Drone Champions League
One of the largest drone racing leagues in the world is starting a new season with some high-flying innovations.
The Drone Champions League today announced the start of its 2021 season with a mix of virtual and personal drone races.
At breakneck speeds of up to 160 km / h, the races will include seven venues around the world and kick off the DCL Women’s Cup.
The World Cup begins (well, fly) on June 20th with a game at the virtual venue in Proptown, USA. In July, the racing drivers zoom through virtual castle landscapes in Reutte, Austria, followed by an online race on the Great (Virtual) Wall of China. In September, virtual flying will continue in “Olibando, USA”, followed by races in Laax, Switzerland and China (TBA).
In November, racing teams will finally meet in Mexico City to duel for the championship crown. All races will be streamed live on Twitch and IQIYI.
This year’s schedule includes a format change, as every drone grand prix starts with a round robin competition rather than the brackets.
A DCL spokesperson notes:
“Over several routes, pilots from seven opposing teams will meet in twos in small preliminary runs. The two teams with the highest scores will face the ultimate showdown in the Grand Final, while the teams with the third and fourth best results will battle for the final podium in their own finals. Both podium finals will have a great climatic heat in which all pilots will fly simultaneously.
New team, new pilots
The Spanish SDT EUROFLYTEC team joins the DCL line-up in 2021, which has had an incredible season and wins the Spanish national title.
DCL adds:
“While fans can look forward to seeing DCL favorites like MinChan Kim, Luke Bannister and MinJae Kim in action again, the teams have also recruited new faces. The DCL Draft gives anyone the chance to become a professional drone racing pilot by proving their skills in DCL – The Game, and after weeks of grind in the game, 100 candidates reached the team selection phase. The drafted pilots are already in action with their new teams. “
“We are very excited to launch the DCL 2021 campaign, which will be the very first hybrid season in drone racing. With virtual and real races in the calendar, we are very happy to bring the sport of drone racing closer to our fans all over the world in these challenging times, ”said Benedikt Brandmeier, DCL Head of Sales and Business Development.
“The increase in audience and engagement during our virtual season last year showed us that the combination of both worlds would not only fascinate our teams and ourselves, but ultimately also our community. Taking this to a new level is our goal for this season and we can’t wait to get started. “
Jason is a longtime DroneLife employee with a passionate interest in anything technology related. He focuses on anti-drone technologies and the public safety sector; Police, fire brigade, search and rescue services.
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