World Drone Cup Italy 2026
2026 FAI World Drone Racing Cup · Cat. 2
11–12 July 2026 · Sassuolo, Italy
Event
World Drone Cup Italy 2026, official FAI World Drone Racing Cup Cat. 2 event.
Date
Saturday 11th to Sunday 12th July 2026.
Venue
Campo Volo Gruppo Aeromodellistico Secchia, Via Secchia 71, Sassuolo, Italy.
Coordinates
44.599818, 10.786361
44°35’41.5″N 10°47’08.1″E
Venue Location
Gruppo Aeromodellistico Secchia
Via Secchia 71, Sassuolo (MO), Italy
General Information
The competition will take place outdoors at the G.A.S. Flight Field near the Secchia river. The official languages of the event will be English and Italian. English will prevail for all competition elements, FAI documents, rules and bulletins.
Rules and Requirements
- The race will follow FAI F9U RC Multi-Rotor Drone Racing class rules.
- Every competitor must have a valid FAI Sporting Licence or FAI Drone Permission.
- An EASA A1/A3 licence is required to fly model aircraft in Italy and Europe.
- Every pilot must have a spotter standing near the pilot seat and watching in line of sight.
- Each pilot may register up to one helper for access to the restricted field area.
- Any protest must be submitted in writing to the FAI Jury President with a €50 deposit.
Race Format
The race format will follow FAI Scenario B: 32 competitors selected from the qualification stage, followed by a double elimination format.
- Qualification heats will last 3 minutes.
- Pilots must complete 3 laps, no more.
- The best 3 consecutive laps will count for the qualification ranking.
- Qualification heats will be composed of 4 pilots.
- The official racetrack will not be published before the event.
Video, Antenna and Radio
- Allowed video systems: Analog and HDZero.
- Maximum video output power: 25 mW.
- HDZero Offset must be set to 0.
- Allowed antennas: RHCP polarization and linear dipole only. LHCP is not allowed.
- Allowed radio systems: 2.4 GHz up to 100 mW and 868 MHz up to 25 mW.
Awards and Finals
Prizes and trophies will be awarded to the first, second and third placed competitors in the individual classifications: Women, Junior and Overall.
Only the Overall Final will be officially recognized for FAI points assignment. Women and Junior finals will also be organized by the event team, provided that at least four competitors are available in each category.
Preliminary Schedule
| Saturday 11 July | Activity |
|---|---|
| 08:00 | Arrival |
| 08:00 – 08:30 | Model processing |
| 08:30 – 09:00 | Day briefing and track walk |
| 09:00 – 10:30 | Free practice |
| 10:30 – 12:00 | Qualifying rounds |
| 12:00 – 12:30 | Break |
| 12:30 – 18:30 | Qualifying rounds |
| Sunday 12 July | Activity |
|---|---|
| 08:00 – 10:00 | Qualifying round(s) |
| 10:30 – 12:30 | Elimination rounds, top 32 pilots, double elimination format |
| 12:00 – 12:30 | Break |
| 12:30 – 16:30 | Elimination rounds, top 32 pilots, double elimination format |
| 16:30 – 17:30 | Women, Junior and Overall finals |
| 18:00 | Prize award and ceremony |
Registration
- Entry contribution: minimum €55.
- Registration opens on 5 June 2026.
- Registration closes on 12 June 2026 or when the 48-pilot limit is reached.
- After reaching 48 pilots, a waiting list will be opened.
After the registration form has been submitted, the organization will verify the information provided. Once the registration has been approved, the competitor will receive an email containing the payment instructions and the necessary bank details. Registration will be considered valid only after payment confirmation.
Food, Insurance and Public Access
A lunch bag for both days will be offered by the organization to the pilots. Competitors must have personal insurance covering model aircraft accidents in Italy, including injury and property damage. Medical and travel insurance are also recommended.
The venue will be closed to the general public. Live scoring and live streaming via YouTube are planned.
Local Contact
Name: Filippo Di Marco
Email: filippo.dimarco@eim.it
Mobile: +39 348 241 0931
Confirmed pilots list
| # | Pilot | Nation | Status |
|---|