Our Journey Begins
Our adventure began with a smooth flight from Heathrow, thanks to China Eastern Airlines, which brought us safely to Shanghai. From there, we had a thrilling ride on the Maglev train, reaching 300 kph before hopping on the Metro to our hotel in central Shanghai. Despite the 17-hour journey, we were eager to settle in, recharge, and prepare for the days ahead.
Settling In and Exploring Shanghai
Monday was all about shaking off jet lag and acclimating to our new surroundings. After breakfast we took in some of Shanghai’s sights, including a visit to the city aquarium. Later, we gathered for a team dinner, followed by the reveal of our team kit. Karl’s design received an enthusiastic thumbs-up from everyone!
Celebrating Dan’s 18th Birthday
That evening, we managed to find an Irish pub, where we strategised for the race, talked quad setups, and celebrated Dan’s 18th with his “first” beer. As midnight struck, we serenaded him with “Happy Birthday” before turning in for the night.
Off to Hangzhou
On October 30, we set off early to navigate Shanghai’s bustling Metro, arriving at Hongqiao Railway Station, a vast hub of activity. The Bullet Train zipped us to Hangzhou in just under an hour. Once at the hotel, we spotted other drone racers from around the world—a wonderful mix of familiar and new faces—and had a chance to reconnect and make introductions.
After settling in, we suited up in our team jerseys and headed to the nearby stadium to pick up our passes and check out the track. Built from PVC pipes and lit with LEDs, the track was both familiar and challenging, as we’d practised on a virtual version back home. Still, it presented new variables, like wind and lighting, that we knew would add to the challenge.
Preparing for Race Day
It’s inspiring to see how naturally our newer team members have adapted to the scene here, showing a calm confidence amongst their peers and in their approach to the track. Lunch was spent discussing last-minute tweaks to our setups; thankfully, minor LED and transmitter issues were quickly sorted out.
We finished the day with another track visit, this time at night, letting our pilots visualise the layout and prepare mentally. Every detail counts as we head into tomorrow’s first official practice session, with qualification rounds to follow.
Looking Ahead
Tomorrow, we’ll share updates from our model processing and pilot photo session (for display on the stadium’s large screens) and bring you insights from our initial practice runs.
Once again, thank you for making this journey possible. We’re honoured to represent you here and can’t wait to keep you updated!
Warm regards,
Karl Payne – Team Manager
