The Drone Racing League has kicked off simulator tryouts so pilots across the world can compete online for a spot in the 2020 DRL Championship season. The simulator acts more like an esport than physical drone piloting, but the hyper-real experience mimics the physics of actual flying.
Different than last year, the final will also be held remotely. The online-only format increases accessibility, as there were a few people who qualified for the finals last year but couldn’t make it to Vegas. DRL founder and chief executive Nicholas Horbaczewski says the league pivoted to give “anyone with a computer a shot to enter the tryouts for a chance to go pro.”
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The league will livestream weekly events every Tuesday and Thursday from Feb. 18 through March 26 on Twitter and YouTube. Users can compete each week, 12 times total, on different tracks to vie for a spot in the final. During the tournament, pilots have 30 minutes to set their fastest time using the DRL Racer4, then the top 24 battle it out bracket-style.
For the first time ever, DRL will give out monetary prizes ($75,000 in total) to the winners of each week’s contest leading up to the main event. At the final, a champion will be crowned and awarded a large DRL contract. Last year’s winner signed for $75,000. DRL says more than 1,000 aspiring pilots have registered for the 2020 tryouts so far.
