SAE – Drone Racing League Fly Fast. Navigate Smart. Race To Victory. Get ready to experience the thrill of high-speed FPV drone racing at the SAE – Drone Racing League . Pilots will compete on a MultiGP-standard FPV race track , navigating gates, hoops, flags, tunnels, and designated checkpoints while pushing their drones to the limit. The competition combines speed, precision, control, strategy, and safety , with pilots battling for the fastest valid race time.
Competition Format: Round 1 — Registration &
Day Practice: 18 September 2026 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM The opening session focuses on registration, verification, equipment and safety checks, and track familiarization. Participants will get official practice slots to understand the track layout, racing lines, obstacles, and course conditions.
Note: Practice timings will not be considered for qualification. Round 2 — Night
Practice Session: 18 September 2026 | 9:00 PM – 19 September 2026 | 2:00 AM Experience the challenge of FPV racing under night-time conditions. Pilots can use this session to familiarize themselves with the track and adapt their flying techniques to the changed conditions. Round 3 — Qualifiers &
Grand Finale: 19 September 2026 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM The final day begins with the official qualifying rounds. Each pilot will receive multiple timed attempts, with their fastest valid lap recorded as the qualifying time. The top-performing pilots from the Amateur and Professional categories will advance to the Grand Finals. In the Grand Finals, qualified pilots will compete in multiple race heats, with starting positions determined by qualifying rankings. Final rankings will be based on finishing position after completing the prescribed number of laps. Separate winners will be declared for the Amateur and Professional categories.
Judging Criteria: Participants will be evaluated based on their ability to complete the race track quickly, accurately, and safely.
Track Completion Time: Faster valid times receive higher rankings.
Obstacle Navigation: Pilots must successfully pass through all designated gates, hoops, flags, tunnels, and checkpoints.
Course Compliance: Missing obstacles, deviating from the prescribed course, or taking shortcuts may result in penalties or disqualification.
Fair Play & Safety: Unsafe flying, intentional interference, or violation of race regulations may result in penalties or disqualification.
Winner Determination: The participant/team with the lowest valid race completion time after accounting for applicable penalties will be declared the winner.
Rules & Regulations: Participants may register individually or as a team, as specified during registration. All drones must comply with the technical specifications and safety requirements prescribed by the organizers. A mandatory Technical Inspection will be conducted before racing to verify frame integrity, propeller condition, video transmission compliance, and fail-safe functionality. Participants must bring their own drone, batteries, radio transmitter, FPV goggles, and other required equipment. Attendance at the mandatory pilot briefing and safety orientation is compulsory. Participants must report to the staging area before their designated race slot. Missing obstacles, deviating from the prescribed course, or taking shortcuts may result in penalties or disqualification. Unsafe flying, intentional interference, or damage to event infrastructure may lead to immediate disqualification. Participants are expected to follow all safety instructions and maintain fair play throughout the competition. The decisions of the judges and organizers shall be final and binding. Who Can Participate?:
Venue
SJT Ground
Vellore, India
Eligibility: College Students &
Professionals Participation: Individual or Team
Team Size: 1–5 members Why Participate?: Experience competitive FPV drone racing on a MultiGP-standard track Test your piloting skills under both day and night conditions Compete against skilled pilots across Amateur and Professional categories Challenge yourself with precision-based obstacles and timed racing Put your speed, control, strategy, and decision-making to the test
The Challenge: Speed is not enough. Precision wins races. Navigate every obstacle. Stay on course. Keep control under pressure. Set the fastest valid time and race your way to the Grand Finale. Are you ready to take flight?