Thai pilot comes 2nd at the 2024 FAI Drone Racing Championship

Photo: Wanraya Wannapong /Facebook: Rasat Thailand

Thailand’s Wanraya Wannapong finished runner-up at the women’s FAI Drone Racing Championship 2024 in Hangzhou, China.

At this year’s competition, she was accompanied by her father, Awut Wannapong, who doubles as her trainer. Wanraya’s performance was reportedly affected by technical difficulties with her goggles.

The gold medal went to Luisa Rizza from Italy, with the bronze going to Yimeng Lou from China. There were 107 participants from 32 countries competing in the championship this year.

Best known for her inscrutable demeanour, Wanraya first won the world championship in 2018, at the age of just 11 years old. She then also won the title in 2019 and 2023.

Before that, she competed in Thai PBS’s radio controlled aircraft competition.

Her next challenge will be at the World Games 2025 in China.