The first World Drone Prix event will be held at Skydive Dubai this March 11-12 with the top 32 teams—out of the 100 flown to the Middle East for March 7-8 preliminaries—competing for $1 million in cash prizes. The inaugural event was organized by Sheikh Hamdan, crown prince of Dubai, UAE, and the World Organization of Racing Drones (WORD). Co-producers of this new league are the Aerial Grand Prix and the International Drone Racing Association (IDRA).

Sponsored by Skydive Dubai, X Dubai, Dubai Calendar and RTA, the World Drone Prix is the largest drone racing event ever held, many times larger than any previous race, and it’s the first drone racing event to feature a custom-built, physical track complete with wild turns and dips designed for spectators.

Sahand Barati, president of the IDRA, helped organize this first event. He talks about the future of drone racing and what it’s opening up to sponsors and spectators in this exclusive interview.

Why did you found the IDRA?

IDRA was founded on the belief that the passion for the sport of drone racing will usher a new era of innovation towards drone technology. In the same way that the early roots of Formula 1 grew the automobile industry, hobbyists and passionate tinkerers got together in garages all over the world and paved the way for the current technology that we have in our modern day cars. The IDRA loves the potential for a growing/learning community of people. Bringing together the hobbyists, professionals, and industry leaders through our competitive events is ingrained in our DNA.

How has the organization grown since launching?

IDRA has grown from a concept to an international body that is 50,000 strong within a matter of months. We started out with zero cash. Our passion and ambition partnered with our strategic marketing plans to grow the sport has been the fuel to our relatively fast success.

How big is drone racing today in the US, and in the world?

Drone racing is still a relatively small industry because it is so young. The first real race that got any publicity was the 2015 US Drone Nationals held in June at the California State Fair. The event was a first of its kind and attracted around 150 pilots from across the country. It had a relatively small spectator crowd because at the time no one knew what drone racing was. Fast-forward a few months to present-day and you can see that drone racing is experiencing hyper growth. You now have races popping up all over the world. The number of pilots has grown tremendously over the last few months, and is expected to grow faster in the coming years as the barrier to entry becomes less difficult through flight simulators and RTF aircraft.

Are there any comparisons with drone racing and other traditional racing sports based on where you see this heading?

Drone racing does have some elements of conventional racing within it but for the most part it is its own beast. No other form of racing combines the best of the virtual and physical worlds into a unique experience. Unlike auto, boat, airplane, or horse racing, the technology necessary for drone racing is accessible to anyone, and the initial monetary investment is relatively minimal.

How did the IDRA work with the World Drone Prix on this Dubai event?

The IDRA is one of the co-founding organizations that created the WDP along with the Aerial Grand Prix. One week before our IDRA California Cup Championship, we were flown out to Dubai to discuss the opportunities of expanding the sport. We were blown away by the generosity of Sheikh Hamdan, the crown prince of Dubai, in providing the necessary resources to really bring our dreams to life. The boost that the government of Dubai and Sheikh Hamdan gave our industry brings legitimacy to the industry and will take us over the hurdle of transitioning from a hobby to a full-fledged sport.

What role do you see this World Drone Prix playing in the drone racing landscape?

The World Drone Prix stakeholders believe that the drone racing community is made up of some the best innovators on the planet. They see the positive impact drones can have on society and want to support advancements within industry. Drones have become very popular recently, but the technology still has a long way to go in many areas like battery life, obstacle avoidance, situational awareness, etc. The stakeholders believe the best way to promote innovation is through competition.

Through racing and other various competitions like the Drones Are For Good Expo (which is also held in Dubai), they empower and support the best and brightest minds within this industry in the hopes that their breakthroughs in drone technology will benefit humanity. Given Dubai’s long history of racing, their goals are to turn the WDP into a full F1-style international series.

Can you explain what the racecourse is actually like and how it may differ from other venues (including any preliminary venues for this competition)?

The race course from Dubai was designed by Film Masters. They took our dream track and made it into reality. The course layout has hairpin turns, a 30-foot rise and vertical drop, and a lightshow that rivals the best concerts in the world. The biggest difference between a racetrack for cars and a drone racecourse is the ability to move on the z-axis; that dynamic is absolutely thrilling when you see it in person. 

What are typical IDRA racecourses like?

The typical IDRA racecourse, along with all the other racing leagues, consist mainly of feather flags outlining the turns, air gates that designate the drops, and exercise cones to outline the course. The track designed in Dubai ushers in a more professional and broadcast-ready track that is critical to growing the sport.

How will the IDRA continue to operate separately with its own league plans?

IDRA plans to move forward just as we have in the past. First, we believe that the community needs to be much larger. Inviting new adopters to the sport is paramount to the growth of the industry. Secondly, we are working with private investors that believe in the future of this technology. Bigger drones and high-definition transmission is key for broadcast and the only way we can develop those devices is by having investors and industry leaders partner with us. IDRA spends a considerable amount of effort on media. Exposure and coverage of our events is a keystone to our company.

How have you seen sponsors and prize money increase in this space?

The rapid exponential growth of sponsorship and prize money has been a big shock to the industry as a whole. From prizes ranging from $10,000 to now a purse totaling $1 million in just a matter of a few months is astounding! It just shows that there are key people that believe in the potential of this sport and industry.

What opportunities do you see 360-degree video opening up for drone racing in the future?

I believe 360-degree video and virtual reality goggles will be synonymous with drone racing. For the first time in the history of man, the spectator will be able to see and interact with a live view of the aircraft. They can move their head around as the drone races through the track and actually feel as if they themselves are piloting the aircraft, kind of like entering the mind of the pilot, if you will.

Where do you see drone racing five years from now?

Our hope is that by 2018, IDRA and the other leagues will have the capital to continue to grow the community of users. By 2020, we hope to have large-scale drones racing on full Formula One tracks, and by 2021 drone racing will be sought after on every sports broadcast outlet in the world. We hope to look back at Dubai and say that we’ve come a long way since then, and we are very grateful for the opportunity that Sheikh Hamdan has given the sport.