Kicking things off is the Allianz & DRL Formula E Party Presented by BMW. The red-carpet event will take place ahead of a weekend of all-electric racing both on the ground and in the air.
“The Drone Racing League is the global, professional drone racing circuit -- with a personal tie to NYC: We’re headquartered here and hand-build a fleet of racing drones in the only drone manufacturing workshop in the city,” said Nicholas Horbaczewski, CEO and Founder of DRL.
“Our team is incredibly excited to showcase drone racing in our hometown together with our partners, Allianz, BMW and the ABB FIA Formula E Championship. It’s going to be an exhilarating weekend of racing in the air and on the road in Brooklyn.”
Since the inaugural race in 2014, the ABB FIA Formula E Championship has served as a competitive platform to test and develop the latest technology in the world of electro-mobility.
“DRL shares our same passion and commitment to pushing the boundaries of future technologies and innovation in racing, as well as offering fans an unforgettable and electrifying experience,” said Alejandro Agag, Founder & CEO of Formula E.
“There’s no better way to kick-off the countdown to championship decider and get a flying start to the Formula E finale than in partnership with The Drone Racing League.”
During the event, guests including motorsport influencers, tech gurus, and cultural tastemakers will be transported into the world of professional drone racing. From the BMW i Cockpit - flanked by two BMW i8 Roadsters - six elite DRL pilots will compete across four rounds for the all-important trophy. The exhibition drone race will offer a glimpse into the world of speed and precision flight while racing through a three-dimensional course, overlooking the spectacular Manhattan skyline.
Racing custom-built FPV (First Person View) drones through neon-colored gates, guests will get to experience the thrill of FPV competition - and explosive drone crashes - by wearing immersive ride-along goggles that tap into the video feed of each pilot’s drone. Allianz Light Up Wristbands will change color throughout the night to indicate which pilots are in the lead.
The event will preview DRL’s large-scale Allianz World Championship Season events that will take place in legendary locations around the globe throughout 2019 and premiere on NBC and Twitter on Sunday, August 11 at 2:00pm EST.