Luisa Rizzo wins drone racing stage in Rome

Luisa Rizzo, a 24-year-old pilot from Lecce, won the fourth stage of the Italian Professional Drone Racing Championship held at the Tor di Quinto military hippodrome in Rome. The victory places her at the top of the tournament standings.

The event, known as the ‘Esercito 1659 Drone Challenge’, was promoted by the Ministry of Defence and organized by Difesa Servizi in collaboration with the Italian Army. The competition involved 40 participants, including 16 civilians, 18 military personnel, and eight professional pilots. In the amateur ‘open’ category, 19-year-old Massimo Colombo Kyle from Varese secured a win.

Beyond the sporting aspect, the challenge served as a platform to discuss the development and applications of drone technology. Luca Andreoli, CEO of Difesa Servizi, noted that drone racing represents a new, inclusive way of conceiving sport through high-level performance. The event also aimed to foster civic responsibility and awareness regarding the respect of urban environments and cultural heritage during technological demonstrations.