264 hours and 600 attempts – that’s what it took for Emmanuel Mota, aka UFO, to go from amateur game player to Drone Racing League pro. His journey from the 2018 Swatch DRL Tryouts in NYC to the World Championships is captured in a six-part video series premiering today.

As an official partner of the Drone Racing League, we hosted the 2018 Swatch DRL Tryouts, which featured the top-place finishers of the online simulator tournament. UFO was among the best of the best simulator pilots and he kicked off his professional career in New York City at the tryouts.

Episode 1 captures the ups and downs of UFO’s experience at the kick-off race – the thrill of stealing second in the simulator race at the tryouts and the disappointment in missing the cut for the World Championships tour with real drone racing.

“I knew it was going to take some serious work and a bunch of luck to win,” UFO said. “To end up taking second in the world is amazing.”

Documenting what it’s like to go from SIM player to pro racer, this first part in the series introduces a talented, die-hard drone racing professional and gives you an inside look at an up-and-coming e-sport that has gained international recognition.

The first episode ends with a plot twist that continues UFO’s surge on the professional level, and episode two – “The Unexpected Opportunity” – sets the scene for the next stage in his flight to the top.

To watch the other five episodes in the Life of a Drone Racer series, head over to our YouTube channel.

> Episode 2 – THE UNEXPECTED OPPORTUNITY
> Episode 3 – PERKS OF THE JOB
> Episode 4 – UFO IN ACTION
> Episode 5 – THE PILOTS’ PERSPECTIVE
> Episode 6 – UFO'S SEASON