In this BIG SPOTLIGHT episode, our Trackmania driver Massa talks about the new format and his synergy with GranaDy.
How did you get into Trackmania?
It was actually pretty random. I saw Trackmania in a store and spontaneously bought it with a friend. Since I've always been into racing games (Massa ;-)), I really got into it and gradually kept getting better.
What separates a casual Trackmania player from a pro?
I think the key difference is that pros drive fast and consistent, while casuals lack that consistency. Of course, a casual can get fast sometimes, but under the
pressure, their performance doesn't stay consistent.
You're a full-time pro. What did that step mean for you?
I've always had the goal of working in esports full-time, because the gaming world fascinates me and the people are simply amazing. My previous job didn't fulfill me at all, and that's how I ended up launching my career as a Trackmania pro. I was able to turn my passion into my profession and am now basically my own "boss". It's exactly what I enjoy most and where my motivation is highest. My environment, especially my family and closest friends, support me incredibly, which is very important to me.
What's changed since you're no longer competing solo but as a team?
In a team, it's important that you coordinate perfectly. Especially in the new mode, consistency is crucial, and you only secure that through good teamwork. You have to trust
each other and find a shared playstyleAs a solo player, it used to come down to driving as fast as possible and sometimes going "all in". In team mode, the focus is more on never crashing, since that puts enormous pressure on your teammate. I think the synergy between GranaDy and me is really good in that regard, which will definitely benefit us going forward.
Looking back, how do you rate the matches against Solary and Sinners?
We knew it would be very tough against Solary. We gave it our best, but it wasn't enough. Neither of us could bring our best performance there either. In Trackmania, feeling plays a huge role. If you don't feel it, winning won't happen. Against SINNERS, we both felt it—we played very well and didn't give our opponents a chance.
You narrowly lost against Alliance. How did you handle that?
We were frustrated, especially me, because I didn't play well. I just didn't have a good day. Still, we made the best of it—in the end, it was still a very close match. We're also only at the very start of the league and the format, and we still need to get used to the changes: you sit together in voice comms and constantly keep track of where the opponents are. That's an adjustment from before.
Final words?
Sunday we're up against Karmine Corp—a must-win for us, even though they'll probably say the same about us. BDS is another very strong opponent coming up soon. The
guys haven't lost a single match yet, and they beat Solary too. Overall we're very confident, even though my last match was a bit "sloppy". Right now, anyone can beat anyone.