DCL23 Grand Prix Split 2 Race Format and Point System


In the exhilarating world of drone racing, the Drone Champions League (DCL) continues to push boundaries and elevate the sport to new heights. The DCL23 Grand Prix Split 2, set to commence on September 25th, 2023, promises an electrifying experience for both seasoned fans and newcomers.

DCL23 Grand Prix Split 2 Format

The stage is set for the DCL23 Grand Prix Split 2, where 10 elite teams will take flight in the thrilling world of drone racing. Get ready for a season packed with adrenaline-pumping action and fierce competition as we introduce you to the race format and point system that will determine the next champion.

  1. ๐‘๐€๐ˆ๐ƒ๐„๐ ๐‘๐€๐‚๐ˆ๐๐†
  2. ๐—๐๐ฅ๐š๐๐ž๐ฌ ๐‘๐š๐œ๐ข๐ง๐ 
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  4. ๐‚๐ก๐ข๐ง๐š ๐ƒ๐ซ๐š๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ
  5. ๐๐ฎ๐š๐ ๐…๐จ๐ซ๐œ๐ž ๐Ž๐ง๐ž
  6. ย ๐€๐ฅ๐ฉ๐ก๐š ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ ๐‘๐š๐œ๐ข๐ง๐ 
  7. ๐‚๐ฒ๐œ๐ฅ๐จ๐ง๐ž ๐ƒ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ž ๐‘๐š๐œ๐ข๐ง๐ 
  8. ๐‡๐š๐ฏ๐ž๐ง ๐€๐ข๐ซ๐›๐จ๐ซ๐ง๐ž
  9. ๐Œ๐š๐œ๐ก๐Ÿ
  10. ๐ƒ๐‚๐‹ ๐–๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐‚๐š๐ซ๐ ๐“๐ž๐š๐ฆ

In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of the race format and point system that will govern this exciting season. In this remarkable season, DCL introduces a novel concept. There are not one but two champions to be crowned: the Summer Champion, already decided in Split 1 (congratulations to Raiden Racing!), and the Winter Champion in Split 2, who will emerge victorious after the thrilling Split Finals and the grand Super Final.

Each team will score DCL World Championship 2023 Season Points in each match-up they win during the round-robinin stage. The winning Team will get 10 Season Points at the end of the match-up regardless of the round score. The score still matters if there is a draw at the end of the season, the ratio will decide what team is going to be placed higher in the overall Standings. The Standings will look like this:

Position Team Heat Ratio Season Points
1st Team A 0:0 0
2nd Team B 0:0 0
3rd Team C 0:0 0
4th Team D 0:0 0
5th Team E 0:0 0
6th Team F 0:0 0
7th Team G 0:0 0
8th Team H 0:0 0
9th Team I 0:0 0
10th Team J 0:0 0

Round Robin Stage: A Battle of Precision and Strategy

Split 2 kicks off with a round-robin format, where each of the ten formidable teams faces off against every other team twice. The heart of this stage lies in the match-ups, where two teams engage in three heats, showcasing their skill and precision.

The structure of these heats is as follows:

  • Round 1 & 2: 2 Pilots vs. 2 Pilots
  • Round 3: 4 Pilots vs. 4 Pilots

Points are awarded based on individual pilot performance within these heats:

  • 1st place pilot: 4 points
  • 2nd place pilot: 3 points
  • 3rd place pilot: 2 points
  • 4th place pilot: 1 point
  • 5th to 8th place pilots: 0 points
  • DNFs (Did Not Finish): 0 points

The accumulation of these points throughout the round-robin stage not only celebrates individual excellence but also forms the bedrock of the team’s overall championship points. By the stage’s conclusion, teams will have established their ranking from 1st to 10th, setting the stage for the next phase.

At the end of the round-robin Stage, we will have an Overall Ranking from 1st to 10th. The best 6 Teams will reach the Split Finals. The sum of the Season Points accumulated by the other Teams during the round-robin stage is used to determine the final Split Standings for the 7th to 10th positions.

Championship Points: Paving the Path to Victory

Beyond individual achievements, the teams strive for championship points in each match-up. These championship points serve as the crucial determinant for progression, particularly towards the coveted Split Finals.

Championship points are awarded as follows:

  • Win: 3 Championship points
  • Draw: 1 Championship point
  • Loss: 0 Championship points

This intricate system intensifies the competition, emphasizing not only wins but also the spirit of resilience and unwavering consistency throughout the round-robin stage.

Split Finals

After all rounds of the round-robin phase are completed, the six Teams that have accumulated the most Season Points face each other in the Split Finals. The Teams will be seeded based on their Ranking in the Round Robin Stage. 1st Place will face 4th Place in the match 1, 2nd Place will face 3rd Place in the match 2 and 5th Place will face 6th Place in the match 3. As shown in this graphic:

The Teams between Rank 1 and 4 will start above the Elimination Zone (wildcard round in the image above). That means, that they can lose one match-up in the Finals Stage and still have a chance to win the title. Once a Team is below the line, itยดs sudden death. That means, that losing a match-up will mean elimination from the Finals Stage. The match-up 5th vs 6th is already an elimination zone. The winner of that game will stay in the Elimination Zone, and the losing team will drop out of the Finals Stage and will be 6th in the overall Standing. The Team losing match 4 will be 5th, and the loser of match 5 will be 4th. The losing team in Semi-final will be 3rd. The losing Team in the Final will be 2nd and the winner will be the Champion.

Each of the top 6 teams will select 2 pilots from their roster to attend the Finals. The Format of the finals will Change into a Best-of-3 Series.

Round 1 2 Pilots vs 2 Pilots
Round 2 2 Pilots vs 2 Pilots
Round 3 2 Pilots vs 2 Pilots

The Team that first wins 2 Rounds advances to the next Stage. The losing Team will drop into the Elimination Zone or if the game was already in the elimination Zone they will drop out of the Finals.

Find the details in the visualization below:

The Countdown Begins

As the countdown to DCL23 Grand Prix Split 2 commences, fans worldwide brace themselves for a season filled with unrivaled action and intrigue. The race format and point system, as outlined above, lay the foundation for this extraordinary competition that will leave spectators on the edge of their seats.

Don’t miss out on the excitement. Tune in to our official DCL YouTube channel for the premiere of each episode, offering a glimpse into 16-18 action-packed episodes that promise to deliver adrenaline-pumping thrills.

Additionally, join us for the ‘Flight Nights,’ live-streamed on Twitch at DCL’s Twitch Channel, where the world’s finest pilots will showcase their skills, live and unfiltered.

Our partnership with ESTV ensures that fans worldwide can savor the thrill of drone racing. Stay connected with us on our social media channels for highlight clips, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive updates after each episode.

Prepare for takeoff as the DCL23 Grand Prix Split 2 soars into action on September 25th, 2023. Follow us on social media, visit our official website, and gear up for a season that promises to redefine the world of drone racing.

 

by Babu Muhammad Umair, Social Media Manager DCL.
Published: September 8, 2023 at 11:31 AM GST