Page 58 - World Airnews August 2020 Edition

NEWS DIGITAL

USA SHOCKS BRITAIN IN DRONE

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OPENER

big impact, such as MinChan Kim, a fierce stupid fast. It was really intense that it
force for XBlades, and Pawel Laszczak, came down to those last few points. I think
The first virtual season in the history who piled up points for Quad Force One. our team is amazing. I’m super proud of
of the Drone Champions League kicked off Altogether, pilots from 18 nationalities took them, and having a first and a second is
with an American revolution. part in Vaduz, and 11 of the pilots were great.”
At the Breitling Virtual Drone Grand Prix new to DCL after being selected in Draft Results Day 1 Drone Grand Prix Vaduz
Vaduz, in Liechtenstein, eight international sessions. 2020: 1. XBlades Racing (GBR) 250 points,
teams launched the 2020 world champi- The teams faced four racetracks across 2. Quad Force One (USA) 220 pts, 3. APEX
onship of professional drone racing teams the weekend – two daytime and two Racing (DEN) 200 pts, 4. Falcons Racing
with two days of sheer excitement. night-time – that they had never seen until (KOR) 150 pts, 5. Raiden Racing (JPN) 80
In the first day grand final, the reigning their Qualifying sessions. The virtual tracks pts, 6. China Dragons (CHN) 0, 7. Drone
XBlades of Great Britain - who are targeting featured iconic Vaduz landmarks, such as Sports Global (RUS) 0, 5. 80 pts, 8. Indrone
a fourth team title - defeated Quad Force St. Florin Cathedral and Liechtenstein’s (ESP) 0
One of the USA. But in a day later rematch, Parliament, with the addition of heart-stop- Results, Day 2 Drone Grand Prix Vaduz
the Americans staged a long-awaited coup. ping gates and camera angles that would 2020: 1. Quad Force One (USA) 250 points,
The rivals are tied in the overall points at be impossible in real life. 2. XBlades Racing (GBR) 220 pts, 3. APEX
the head of the standings, while Denmark’s With three more stops on the calendar, Racing (DEN) 200 points, 4. Raiden Racing
APEX Racing is close behind after finishing the battle has only begun. (JPN) 150 pts, 5. Falcons Racing (KOR) 80
third on both days. Alex Campbell, Quad Force One said “I pts, 6. Drone Sports Global (RUS) 0, 7. China
Another big story was Raiden Racing, couldn’t be any more proud of how it’s Dragons (CHN) 0, 8. Indrone (ESP) 0
who finished last in 2019, without a single going this year. To make a true champion Overall Standings, Drone Champions
point. In Vaduz, the Japanese team not only doesn’t mean that you win once. A true League 2020: 1. XBlades Racing (GBR) 470
scored but advanced to the Semi-Finals champion, in my book, has been on the top, points, 2. Quad Force One (USA) 470 pts,
for the first time in two years. As a result, he’s fallen back down, and he’s gotten back 3. APEX Racing (DEN) 400 pts, 4. Falcons
Raiden shares the midfield of the season up. So I feel like we were almost on top in Racing (KOR) 230 pts, 5.Raiden Racing (JPN)
standings with Korea’s Falcons Racing 2018. 2019 was our dip – we took a hard 230 pts, 6. China Dragons (CHN) 0, 7. Drone
(formerly Veloce), while the China Dragons year, a lot of stress, a lot of anxiety. We’re Sports Global (RUS) 0, 8. Indrone (ESP) 0
and Russia’s Drone Sports Global have writing a story, and race two [in Vaduz] The DCL season continues in a bespoke
work to do with zero points. Rounding out is our intro to this storybook. I can’t wait virtual world at the Virtual Drone Grand
the Vaduz field was Spanish wildcard team for you guys to experience what’s going to Prix in Proptown, USA. Follow the action on
Indrone. happen.” 8-9 August, at 14:00 UTC, on juked.gg.
With the virtual drones all the same, Luke Bannister, XBlades team said, ““It DCL partners include Red Bull, Breitling,
the focus was on pilot skill. Pilots who had was a really great race. Those guys [Quad myWorld, and IQONIQ. For more informa-
switched teams in the off-season made a Force One] put in so much work and were tion: www.dcl.aero. Q

World Airnews | August Extra 2020
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