World’s Biggest Drone Racing Competition Introduces ‘e-Drone’ Racing Cup

Back from a three-year hiatus because of COVID-19, the 2023 Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) World Drone Racing Championships (WDRC) will host the “e-Drone” Racing Cup, its first-ever virtual competition. The sub-event will pit aces against each other on a simulated version of the WDRC track to kick off the four-day event in Namwon City, South Korea.

Since the drones will be digital, the online race may lack the excitement of crashes or tight maneuvering. But the live-streamed event will feature multiple rounds, color commentary, replays, and stats whizzing across the screen—just like the real deal.

Open to all drone pilots, the event is free to enter and will pay out cash prizes and FAI diplomas to the victors.

“We are thrilled to present the inaugural FAI e-Drone Racing Cup, which has an open-door policy to attract newcomers to the sport of drone racing,” said Bruno Delor, the 2023 FAI WDRC jury president. “We hope to unite pilots from around the globe to compete, with the top 64 going through up to the final. As the simulator uses the same track as the FAI WDRC, we hope to see fans racing against regular competitors.”

The e-Drone Racing Cup competitions will be flown in the EreaDrone simulator. To enter, pilots will need to purchase an EreaDrone 2023 Steam Key for $24.99, but buying between August 18 and September 21 will add a 25 percent discount. Registration for the event is free and opens August 21 on the EreaDrone website. To compete in the final stage, registrants will also require a valid FAI Sporting License or Drone Permission.

The EreaDrone simulator comes with a “standard” drone model, but pilots will be able to tinker with variables such as mass, motor power, and battery voltage to find the ideal mix. To fly the digital drone, they’ll need a Windows computer and either a radio or game controller (like an Xbox remote).

The qualifying round will kick off on September 1 and run through September 24, during which time pilots will have 12 attempts to record their fastest three-lap run on the track. As in the live races, they’ll need to navigate under, around, and through bright neon obstacles. But those will be the only distractions—the qualifiers are asynchronous, so each pilot flies solo.

The top 64 performers will move on to the final stage, which takes place during the first two days of the 2023 WDRC. On October 6, eight heats of eight pilots will compete, this time on the same virtual racecourse. The top four in each will advance to the quarterfinal on October 7, followed by a semifinal and culminating in a final race for all the marbles later in the day.

For detailed information about registering and competing in the e-Drone Racing Cup, check out FAI’s event factsheet.

This year’s WDRC will also feature the first FAI-approved drone soccer event, the Drone Soccer Open International Cup. Set in an indoor stadium, teams of five will attempt to fly drones encased in protective, neon-lit orbs into the opponent’s goal. Twenty-five teams from five countries are expected to compete.

Meanwhile, a “drone clash” event will pit teams against one another in a “king of the hill”-style battle to down the other side’s drones.

While it probably won’t rival the Olympics, the event’s opening ceremony will feature a drone light show. And among other exhibitions and performances, the venue will host a Drone Sports and Advanced Air Mobility Show Conference, according to a bulletin.

In total, 32 national teams and 23 individuals who placed in previous Drone Racing World Cup competitions will compete at the event, in addition to the e-drone pilots signing up for the new competition. The main event will feature a $100,000 grand prize.

Like this story? We think you'll also like the Future of FLYING newsletter sent every Thursday afternoon. Sign up now.