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A New Home for the TMR Game!

Do you like motorsport predictions games? A fan of F1, IndyCar, NASCAR, sportscars, WRC, MotoGP? Or perhaps you would like to find a way to learn the personalities involved in those series? Play the TMR Game!

The last two season have seen this blog host the ‘Too Much Racing Game’, a.k.a. ‘TMR Game’, a prediction competition in which players weekly choose up to ten drivers from a variety of major series. Players are awarded points based on finishing positions of their picks and by the last major race of the season, the player with the most points wins. The game was based on The Speedgeek’s own All-Racing Fantasy League, a private league run via email.

The TMR Game will not be continuing on this blog this season, just I said at the end of last season I’d like to use my energies writing more frequently and working on another project I have in mind. Thankfully the game will be back in 2012, at a new home!

Sebastian has generously volunteered to run what is now ‘The Motor Racing Game‘ and it now has a dedicated site: http://themotorracinggame.wordpress.com/

You think you know racing? Sebastian has a 100% record after winning both competitions held so far. Head over to the new site from Sunday if you think you can challenge him!

The rules are the same, the format is the same, there are just a few minor alterations but nothing more than the changes between 2010 and 2011.

The best part? The WRC is back! That means the game restarts THIS WEEKEND in order to accept entries for the Monte-Carlo Rally!

And don’t worry if you miss the Tuesday night deadline enforced by the Monte-Carlo schedule, there’s a one-time opportunity to join in time for the Rolex 24 at Daytona without losing points to the competition.

I really do hope that the game attracts both new and existing players and continues to grow, so if you think you know racing or you’d like a great way to learn about series you don’t follow right now, take yourself along to the TMRG site and join in!

Thanks again to Sebastian for his help over the last two years and stepping in now, to Andy for allowing me to rip off his game, and to all of the players who have entered. It’s been fun! It’s also been a bit tiring to run and I really am looking forward to enjoying this game as a player!

Dakar 2012 – Stage 6

Stage 6 (cancelled)

Fiambala > Copiapo

Route

Today the rally was supposed to have left Argentina, crossed the Andes mountains by road and then contested a short 247km special just over the Chilean border. However, the weather got the better of the ASO who were forced to cancel the crossing because the advance organisation vehicles (who precede the main event) were unable to cross the mountains the previous day. As a result the special stage was not contested and the competitors crossed the mountain in convoy.

Magazine (2min):

Why do the Dutch love Dakar trucks?

Stage 6 Summary:

No stage = no summary!

 

Standings

No change since yesterday.

Overall – Bikes

1. Despres (KTM)
2. Coma (KTM) +9m51s
3. Rodrigues (Yamaha) +47m56s
4. Lopez (Aprilia) +49m00s
5. Goncalves (Husqvarna) +54m47s

Overall – Cars

1. Peterhansel (MINI)
2. Holowcyc (MINI) +4m18s
3. Roma (MINI) +10m39s
4. Gordon (Hummer) +13m32s
5. De Villiers (Toyota) +21m01s

 

Dakar 2012 – Stage 5

Stage 5

Chilecito > Fiambala

Route

The stage was split in two completely different challenges as the rally reaches the foothills of the Andes, with bikes and quads tackling 265km of sand dunes, dirt and a long section of rocky tracks, whilst the cars and trucks drove not only a different route but in a different direction on a 177km stage of sand dunes and dirt tracks. I have no idea why the bikers always get a harder time of it!

Magazine (2min):

The heat of the desert is a real challenge for everyone, it is important to stay hydrated.

Stage 5 Summary (3min):

The video gives different distance figures to the map I described above, so perhaps the stages were amended. Difficulties today for al-Attiyah.

Videos from the official Dakar YouTube channel / ASO.

Standings

Don’t read this until you’ve seen the videos.

Today – Bikes

Despres and Coma have made this their own battle, nobody else is even close. If you watched the profile of Mattheiu Lagrive the other day, I’m sorry to say he withdrew from the rally in this stage.

1. Despres (KTM)
2. Coma (KTM) +1m41s
3. Barreda Bort (Husqvarna) +12m42s
4. Svitko (KTM) +13m55s
5. Viladoms (KTM) +14m17s

Overall – Bikes

1. Despres (KTM)
2. Coma (KTM) +9m51s
3. Rodrigues (Yamaha) +47m56s
4. Lopez (Aprilia) +49m00s
5. Goncalves (Husqvarna) +54m47s

Today – Cars

Orlando Terranova (Toyota) who’d occasionally set top five stage times, was forced to withdraw today because of a huge argument with his co-driver, who refused to work with him any more! Apparently Terranova was running so close to the bikes he was almost knocking them over, and as a rider in other competitions his co-driver Grider didn’t take well to that. Just goes to show it isn’t just the terrain, temperature and dust that you have to deal with, it is temperament as well.

1. Holowcyc (MINI)
2. Gordon (Hummer) +1m01s
3. Peterhansel (MINI) +3m52s
4. Roma (MINI) +7m47s
5. Novitsky (MINI) +8m18s

Overall – Cars

1. Peterhansel (MINI)
2. Holowcyc (MINI) +4m18s
3. Roma (MINI) +10m39s
4. Gordon (Hummer) +13m32s
5. De Villiers (Toyota) +21m01s

Holowcyc up to 2nd, Gordon up a spot and De Villiers drops 3 places.

Finally, one of the top competitors in the trucks class, Nikolaev in the Kamaz, hoping to do well after the top two Kamaz drivers didn’t enter this year, was disqualified I believe either due to hitting a car competitor or for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Dakar 2012 – Stage 4

Stage 4

San Juan >Chilecito

Route

The first 100km of the special stage sees competitors climb from 1000m to over 3000m in altitude, before descending back down again on this 326km stage. And this coming after an equally long road section in the morning. The special’s terrain is much the same as yesterday, mud, stones, and the occasional river crossing.

Magazine (2min):

There’s an electric car on the Dakar this year..

Stage 4 Summary (3min30s):

The only thing missing from the video updates is interviews with the main players, you don’t get to see the personalities, and personalities are half of what makes sport so interesting. The official channel has the stage winner but that’s it. I’m sure there are other videos around online if you want to take a look.

Videos from the official Dakar YouTube channel / ASO.

Standings

Don’t read this until you’ve seen the videos.

Today – Bikes

Marc Coma fastest again, after his error yesterday he recovered 2 minutes on Despres. This race is a battle between these two men.

1. Coma (KTM)
2. Despres (KTM) +2m02s
3. Verhoeven (Sherco) +8m26s
4. Rodrigues (Yamaha) +9m01s
5. Goncalves (Husqvarna) +11m18s

Overall – Bikes

1. Despres (KTM)
2. Coma (KTM) +8m10s
3. Rodrigues (Yamaha) +26m48s
4. Lopez (Aprilia) +29m50s
5. Casteu (Yamaha) +30m37s

Today – Cars

Trouble for the Hummers, the MINIs and Toyotas capitalise.

1. Peterhansel (MINI)
2. Terranova (Toyota) +5m19s
3. De Villiers (Toyota) +6m42s
4. Roma (MINI) +7m35s
5. Holowcyc (MINI) +10m51s

Overall – Cars

1. Peterhansel (MINI)
2. De Villiers (Toyota) +5m41s
3. Roma (MINI) +6m44s
4. Holowcyc (MINI) +8m10s
5. Gordon (Hummer) +16m23s

The breakdown for Al-Attiyah forced teammate (and team boss) Gordon to stop, since their repairs truck was delayed and hadn’t yet caught the Dakar convoy. Their only saving grace was that this stage was tough for everybody, so Gordon still lies 5th. Peterhansel impressively moves from a 2m41s deficit to a 5m41s lead! De Villiers is also doing well in a Toyota which is still in the first year of development.