Toby Hughes (Minus One): Racing Under Pressure at the BDRA Shuttleworth BQE
- MiniRollsRule
- 13 minutes ago
- 5 min read
The BDRA Shuttleworth British Qualifier Event in July 2026 delivered everything fans could hope for: exciting racing, international competition, dramatic finals and edge-of-your-seat finishes. Organised by a dedicated team of BDRA volunteers, the weekend showcased the very best of British FPV racing while welcoming newcomers through the popular "Give It A Go" flying area, where visitors experienced the thrill of flying drones for themselves.
At the centre of the action was Toby Hughes, better known as Minus One.
Already regarded as one of Britain's fastest rising pilots, Toby dominated the race from the start, securing the Top Qualifying (TQ) position, ready to take on reigning British Champion FPV Gilbert, Taiwanese favourite Foxur and his now familiar rival, Reikon.
Racing on Instinct
Although Toby's speed is unquestionable, he admits racing is as much a mental challenge as a physical one.
"I always like to think I'm cool, calm and collected... but really I've got proper nerves."
Despite those nerves, his best performances come when instinct takes over.
"My best flying is always when I'm not thinking. I can't think about my flying and do well."
That instinctive style has helped fuel one of British FPV's most exciting rivalries between Toby and Reikon.
"It's definitely a friendly competitiveness... definitely a rival... We started properly racing about the same time and we've done a lot of events together."
That rivalry would once again take centre stage during one of the most dramatic Chase the Ace finals of the season.
Four Races. One Winner.
With TQ secured, Toby lined up against Gilbert, Foxur and Reikon knowing he had the pace to win.
"I don't want to sound like a dick but I sort of felt like... you know... I could do it."
Race One – Survival Counts
The opening race exploded into life almost immediately.
Foxur was taken out at the third gate after contact with Gilbert, while Toby grabbed the holeshot and led the opening lap. Reikon clipped a flag and dropped back, seemingly handing Toby the initiative.
Then disaster struck.
A mistake near the end of lap two ended Toby's race, allowing Gilbert to stay clean and claim the first Ace. Reikon recovered well enough to finish second.
As the old motorsport saying goes: to finish first, first you have to finish.
Race Two – The Perfect Response
With the pressure mounting, Toby produced exactly the response a champion needs.
No crashes. No mistakes. Just three flawless laps.
Leading from start to finish, Minus One claimed his first Ace, with Gilbert close behind, Reikon chasing hard and Foxur just seconds back.
Afterwards, Toby summed it up simply.
"Yeah, I liked that one... that was a good flight."
When asked if he had found his rhythm, he smiled:
"I wasn't thinking about it... which is good."
Race Three – Everything to Play For
The third race became a battle of attrition.
Toby crashed midway through the opening lap but recovered. Gilbert's race ended moments later after crashing and blacking out, while Foxur capitalised to take the race win and his own Ace.
Three out of four pilots now had Aces and the chance to win. Would Reikon be able to take an Ace and create a sudden death race?
Race Four – Winning Through Adversity
If the previous races had tested Toby's speed, the final tested his determination.
After damaging multiple race quads throughout the weekend, he found himself flying what he later described as little more than a backup machine. Persistent ESC desyncs meant he had to abandon outright aggression in favour of smooth, precise flying.
"I've got to fly this smooth and controlled."
Off the line, Gilbert crashed almost immediately, rolling into the spectator safety net and ending his race.
Reikon led, with Foxur second and Toby trying hard to keep his quad in the air behind. When Foxur made a mistake, Toby slipped into second before beginning the chase.
Looking through his FPV goggles, he could see Reikon ahead... then behind... then ahead again as they traded every metre of the circuit.
But on the last lap, coming through the final gate, Toby made his move.
He crossed the finish line barely 0.06 seconds ahead of Reikon to claim his second Ace—and with it, victory at Shuttleworth.
It was a fitting reward for a weekend that demanded speed, composure and adaptability in equal measure.
Shuttleworth Final Results
Rank | Pilot | Points |
1 | 185.0 | |
2 | 170.0 | |
3 | 165.0 | |
4 | 160.0 | |
5 | 155.0 | |
6 | 150.0 | |
7 | 146.0 | |
8 | 142.0 | |
9 | 138.0 | |
10 | 134.0 | |
11 | 130.0 | |
12 | 127.0 | |
13 | 124.0 | |
14 | 121.0 | |
15 | 118.0 | |
16 | 115.0 | |
17 | 112.0 | |
18 | 109.0 | |
19 | 106.0 | |
20 | 103.0 |
Watch the Live Stream Here
Relive the action and witness the amazing winning race on the BDRA youtube channel here
Built Through Preparation
That victory wasn't won on the final lap alone.
Behind every race weekend are countless hours of preparation, and Toby has spent the past year focusing on one thing above all else—consistency.
"That's sort of the main area of racing I'm focusing on. Just actually getting consistent in a finals."
His secret is remarkably simple.
"I try and do sim flying every day."
While summer is dominated by five-inch racing, Toby remains a huge advocate for Tiny Whoops, believing they provide some valuable stick time.
"I reckon about 80–90% of the skills are the same."
That means winter isn't an off-season. It's an opportunity to sharpen reflexes, refine racing lines and keep those all-important thumbs race-ready before transferring those skills back onto larger outdoor drones when summer returns.
A Family Effort
Behind every successful racer is a support team, and Toby is quick to recognise his.
Long before he was old enough to drive, his dad was making the long journeys across the country so he could compete against Britain's best. More recently, his parents have even rented private land where Toby can practise five-inch racing throughout the summer.
"It's some private land that my parents rent out for me... which I'm really grateful for."
That support has helped transform a talented young pilot into one of Britain's genuine title contenders.
Whoops In Winter
And while the outdoor season is in full swing, Toby already knows where he'll be when winter arrives.
Tiny Whoops. Daily simulator practice. And, of course, BIRD – Birmingham International Race Days in early 2027.
"Oh yeah, absolutely. Me and my dad always go."
If Shuttleworth proved anything, it's that Minus One has the speed to challenge anyone. Backed by relentless preparation, family support and an ever-growing confidence, don't be surprised to see him fighting for more victories at the next race.
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