First Person View (FPV) drone racing is a competition where pilots control drones equipped with cameras while wearing goggles that stream the live video feed from the drones so they feel like they’re flying from inside the drone. The goal is to complete a complex race course as quickly as possible and ahead of the other pilots in the heat. Competitions are held in stadiums around the world and also with our pilots flying virtually in the DRL SIM, the true-to-life drone racing simulator.
WHAT IS THE DRONE RACING LEAGUE (DRL)
DRL is the global, professional drone racing property for elite pilots. With custom built racing drones traveling 90 MPH, pilots race through the most insane courses across virtual and physical competitions. Merging the digital with the real, DRL delivers innovative drone technology, immersive content, and visually thrilling races on the best sports networks around the world, including NBC, NBCSN, Twitter, Fox Sports, Sky Sports, ProSieben, and Weibo.
2021-22 DRL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON
The 2021-22 DRL World Championship season features 12 pilots from around the world racing in 14 Levels. The 2021 Season will be a hybrid season with nine in real life (IRL) Levels at multiple locations and five SIM Levels remotely.
LEVEL
A Level is a single racing event that is part of the season-long competition. The top pilots overall at each Level earn Season Points. At the end of the season, the pilot with the most points is the World Champion.
IRL RACES
In real life (IRL) racing that takes place live and in person at venues across the world. Pilots fly 3D courses using the Racer4.
SIM RACES
SIM rracing is made up of Levels flown on unique maps on the DRL SIM.
SEEDING FOR SEMIFINALS
For IRL racing:
Ranking Rounds take place the day before the first Level at a specific course and determine seeds in the Semifinals. Pilots, based on their best Ranking Round heat finishes, are ranked 1 - 12, then seeded into the following groups:
Group 1Â - Pilots ranked 2, 3, 5, 8, 10 and 11
Group 2Â - Pilots ranked 1, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 12
For all subsequent Levels at the same course, and for all subsequent SIM Levels, the overall finish order from the previous Level seeds the pilots into the Semifinal groups of the next Level.
For SIM racing:
Time Trials is 30 minutes allotted for all Pilots to learn and practice the course, and to record their best heat time ahead of the first SIM Level of the season.
After the Time Trials, pilots are ranked 1 - 12 and seeded into Semifinal Groups.
For subsequent SIM Levels, Pilots will be seeded into Groups based on their overall finish in the previous Level. Seeding will take place as follows:
Group 1Â - Pilots ranked 2, 3, 5, 8, 10 and 11
Group 2Â - Pilots ranked 1, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 12
SEMIFINALS
There are two groups of Semifinals. The top 3 pilots from each advance to the Finals.
Semifinal group 1 competes in 3 regular heats. Pilots who place first automatically advance to Finals. If three different pilots did not win a heat, a Sudden Death heat takes place. Semifinal group 2 repeats this process to determine which 6 pilots advance to Finals.
SUDDEN DEATH
Sudden Death is a single heat at the end of a Semifinal group that ensures Finals have a full roster of six pilots.
Sudden Death takes place only if fewer than three pilots qualify for Finals. Pilots who have not won a Semifinal heat participate in Sudden Death. The Pilot who finishes first in Sudden Death always advances to Finals, and if one pilot wins all three regular heats, then second place in Sudden Death also advances.
If three separate Pilots win a regular heat, Sudden Death is not needed.
FINALS
In Finals, six pilots race six regular heats and a Golden Heat that determines the Level winner.
All pilots with a first place finish in at least one Finals regular heat advance to the Golden Heat. Additionally, pilots who have two second place finishes advance to the Golden Heat.
If a single Pilot wins more than one Finals heat, the number of pilots in the Golden Heat reduces. The pilot with the most regular heat wins in the Finals gets the front Start Podium for the Golden Heat.
GOLDEN HEAT
The Golden Heat is a single heat that determines the Level Winner.
The finish order for the remaining Pilots in the Golden Heat is the same for the Level, all based on fastest finish or who crossed the farthest checkpoint node.
The Pilots who did not qualify for the Golden Heat are ranked and awarded points based on their best finish(es) in the Finals.
SEASON STANDINGS
Pilots are awarded points based on their overall finish at each Level as follows:
1st Place: 10 Points
2nd Place: 7 Points
3rd Place: 5 Points
4th Place: 3 Points
5th Place: 2 Points
6th Place: 1 Point
7th - 12th: 0 Points
The pilot with the most points at the end of the season is the World Champion.