Alt-Mario Kart 2001: The Year of Compromise

[Rob Dylan]

1999-2000 Mario Kart champion Dixie Kong pictured here driving the new Mitsuyoshi prototype road car.

Change is afoot in Mario Kart. After another fight between Dixie Kong and Luigi Mario for a second championship, we face change at every corner. The MIA are trying to get to grips with a better relationship with DKR, and are trying to change the rules to accommodate so many drivers and suppliers and manufacturers and everything. Expect to see many compromises and many people making many unpopular trade-offs.


News
Firstly, Mario is gone. He hasn't been seen since the summer of 2000, coincidentally just around the time of Diddy Kong's tragic untimely demise. Since then, Donkey Kong III has taken over the running of Diddy Kong Racing, and with extra funding and a return of some actual talented racers, is rebuilding the series from the ground up, this time actually as a spec series. Mario himself was last spotted painting landscapes in Morocco, and checked in to a hotel in Istanbul around the same time. We don't expect to ever see him again ever.

Daisy von Sarasaland is taking at least the first half of the season off with pregnancy. It is entirely unknown at this point who will take her place for half or all of the season. Rumours initially came around that it was Wario, then Baby Luigi, then Para Troopa. Nobody really knows at this point.

Wario himself has come back from an adventurous year off, during which he still came back to racing and did his home race one last time. He has picked up the remnants of the failed Williams project last year and are entering the grid as Wario Ware Racing. The team are looking to benefit from new engine and tyre rules (see below), while Wario has not confirmed whether or not he will be a driver in the team or just an owner. Pauline Williams has not been heard from outside of the deal with Jumpman, and it is unknown whether or not she intends to return to racing in any role.

Birdo is reportedly unhappy with her lot, having been dumped temporarily for Pipsy Astromouse in the Flower Cup last year. Unless Mitsuyoshi can guarantee her a full season in 2001, she may just walk. At BMW there are about a thousand reports that Bowser Koopa is not happy one bit with Para Troopa's performance, and rumour has it that he is out the door. The question remains: just who is good enough to sit in that BMW? Peach is likely coming back to racing after the birth of her baby girl over the new year. But who, if either, of her 2000 teammates will get the job?

Further back, question marks arise as to Kameklaren's financial situation. King Bobomb is reportedly already out the door before negotiations have begun. Waluigi is already being scooped up by other teams. Most of Kamek's former drivers are taken or are going back to the revived Diddy Kong Racing. It's perhaps time to start afresh for the budding backmarkers.


Rule Changes
There have been talks for quite a while now from within the MIA about making Mario Kart more accessible and finding ways to introduce methods of inclusion and fairness to the small, new teams just as much as the established acts. Therefore, also in an effort to stop overspending and oversaturation, the MIA are encouraging (read: enforcing) some of the top teams to provide engines and tyres to the lower formulae. Specifically Scuderia Barile Ardente and Wario Ware Racing are the targeted new and smaller teams in need of assistance by larger providers. Therefore, with financial incentives, top teams can volunteer or BE volunteered to provide equipment to SBA and WWR for the 2001 season and possibly beyond.

Phase 3 was initially intended to be implemented in the 2001 season, but the current homologation has been going so well and without too much drama that the MIA has decided to extend Phase 2 to the end of 2002 instead. Certain small rule changes are likely to take place affecting team disparity, but basic core principles and rules and calendar, etc., will all remain the same as they are now for the next two years.

All further changes will be discussed with the MKDA representative and brought forward to the teams as they come.


The Entry List
Mitsuyoshi Buntai
#1 Dixie Kong
#2 Birdetta Birdo

Scuderia Sarasaland Squadron Luigier Team (a.k.a. SSL)
#3 Luigi Mario
#4 Wa Luigi

Bowser Motor Works (a.k.a. BMW)
#5 Toad Toadstool
#6 Pipsy Astromouse

Koopra Sport
#7 Kokkoro Toudou
#8 Morton Koopa Jr.

Peachific
#9 Candy Kong / Peach Toadstool (Rs 1-2, 4)
#10 Wendy O. Koopa / Peach Toadstool (Rs 5, 8-9, 11)

Kameklaren
#11 Koopa Kolorado
#12 Mark Wiggler

Scuderia Barile Ardente (a.k.a. SBA)
#14 Funky Kong / Bluesaurus R. Bitakoopas (one Cup)
#15 Banjo-Kazooie

Wario Ware Racing (a.k.a. WWR)
#16 Para Troopa
#17 Larry Koopa


The Calendar
Mushroom Cup: Luigi Raceway; Moo Moo Farm; Koopa Troopa Beach; Kalimari Desert
Flower Cup: Toad's Turnpike; Frappe Snowland; Choco Mountain; Mario Raceway
Star Cup: Wario Stadium; Sherbet Land; Royal Raceway; Bowser's Castle
Special Cup: DK's Jungle Parkway; Yoshi Valley; Banshee Boardwalk; Rainbow Road

The calendar remains the same as it did last year, and will continue as such for the coming years.

All official updates etc will be on this spreadsheet here.




And as always, anyone reading this who wants to sign up, simply post here or message in the Discord and we'll get you a character.

[Rob Dylan]

The first deal is struck: Toad Toadstool considers no other offers when BMW comes a-calling with a two-year contract extension, which will take him to the end of 2002. It will also break his strange pattern of only staying with the same team two years in a row before moving. The first driver is announced.

[Rob Dylan]

More deals are being announced.

Luigi rather obviously re-signs for his own team for another year. After contract discussions, Waluigi has been offered the SSL seat in place of Daisy for the entire season. Daisy will therefore take a year off for childcare.

Peach, who has given birth to a baby girl, will be returning part-time this year. She will drive in the Mushroom Kingdom rounds, while her teammates from last season will continue their roles in a mostly-full-time capacity. Wendy O. Koopa and Candy Kong are therefore re-signed.

Kameklaren hires the untested Koopa Kolorado, while they search for a pay driver to keep the team afloat for next year.

Pipsy Astromouse was desired by more than one team and more than one series for this season. However, she signed for BMW as they had the best kart and the best offer. She has signed a potential multi-year contract.

Kokkoro Toudou also rather unsurprisingly signs for Koopra Sport for a fourth season.

[Rob Dylan]

The news keeps on trickling in.

Dixie Kong signs an agreement for another year at Mitsuyoshi. The green team (the lime-green team that is) keeps their #1 driver and the #1 kart. Birdo, after some fishing around and potential negotiations, signs on for another year with Redsaurus, although for 16 races this time instead of 12.

Kameklaren sign Mark Wiggler, who returns after a year at Williams and Diddy Kong Racing to a troubled team desperately in need of money and points.

Team owner of Scuderia Barile Ardente, Funky Kong, signs himself up for 2001, although with one Cup left out to make way for Bluesaurus. Bluesaurus, who has not raced in the sport since 1996, will be making quite an unexpected return to motor-racing at the top level, and after a series of DNQs, it is still up in the air whether or not he has what it takes to compete. In the other SBA kart is Banjo-Kazooie, who will be making their Mario Kart debut after a series of dependable years in DKR.

Finally, Wario Jumpman has managed to use his fame to good use by picking up BMW throwaway Para Troopa for the number one spot at the team. His teammate will be Larry Koopa, who after a few years in the midfield will be looking for some long-term upward trajectory with Wario Ware Racing.

We await to hear Koopra Sport's last driver, while others like Whomp King have already signed up for DKR in the new season. It is understood that most of the drivers unable to land MK seats will be in DKR this coming year. The changed schedule (no Donut Plains) means that we will be starting around the Flower Cup as was intended from the start with the series.

[Rob Dylan]

Signed up for DKR are Goombario, Pauline Williams, Conker, DK3, Wiz Pig, Whomp King, Bluesaurus, Iggy, Timber Tiger, King Bobomb, and the honourable Krunch Kremling. This means that we have a whopping 11 drivers for the new season!

[Rob Dylan]

Pre-Season Testing



We're back at Mario Raceway. Leading into the race, Wario Ware Racing signed deals to use BMW engines and Booridgestone tyres, making them something of a sister team to the BMW conglomerate. SBA have had financial troubles, possibly a coincidence but also maybe part of a larger deal they have struck to use Mitsuyoshi engines this season.

Koopra Sport turned up with one kart to the test, driven by Kokkoro Toudou. It wasn't until a day after the test that Morton Koopa Jr. was hired for the seat now vacated by his older brother Larry.

On the test day itself, SSL and BMW showed the best pace, with Toad just narrowly edging out Luigi, while Waluigi put on a good fight too. Good results for Kokkoro, while Mitsuyoshi were a little slow in comparison to their opposition.

[Rob Dylan]

Mushroom Cup

The 2001 started in very surreal circumstances. It seemed, correctly, that SSL had the worldbeater under them. The kart had brilliant top speed as well as cornering, and seemed unbeatable in the hands of Luigi Mario over a lap. The only trouble is that Mario Kart races are a gruelling three laps, and Luigi was quickly outshone and humiliated by his incoming teammate Wa Luigi. After a brilliant pole, Luigi got tangled up with Toad Toadstool in the BMW at the first corner of Luigi Raceway, and both were out on the spot. Dixie Kong, the two-time defending champion, took third place. Morton Koopa Jr. stole the rest of the headlines with second on debut in a rejuvenated Koopra Sport kart.

At Moo Moo Farm, the humiliation continued after Luigi, running in the lead from pole, suffered a tyre blow-up ten seconds from the finish. Waluigi was again able to drive right past him and win the race. Dixie Kong was again third while Banjo Kazooie threatened the points after a good start.

Birdo was the victor at Koopa Troopa Beach. Mitsuyoshi were back, while Waluigi was able to capitalise from a poor qualifying to take third in the end. Second for Luigi was the first time he was able to outscore his teammate this year, while Dixie's consistency netted her another point. At Kalimari Desert, disaster struck most of the frontrunners and Waluigi was able to run away with it after a very late-stage overtake on Morton. He was initially disqualified but reinstated later.

Bluesaurus, in his mighty comeback for SBA, was only able to qualify for one race.

[Rob Dylan]

Flower Cup

Kokkoro was the surprise winner at Toad's Turnpike. Perhaps not a surprise, as Koopra Sport have been very fast this year. Her win came a little out of nowhere, while Luigi again suffered a skill issue going down the hill on the first lap. Dixie's second place moved her up to runner-up position in the standings - a position that wasn't to last.

Frappe Snowland had Koopra Sport 1-2 on the grid. Kokkoro overtook Morton for the lead early on and won the race quite comfortably. Luigi was able to pass Morton for some more points, while Waluigi recorded his first DNF of the season.

Choco Mountain saw BMW's woes come to an end. Toad finally delivered on pace and won the race from a pole-starting Luigi. Waluigi was outpaced by them both and finished the race third. Again Banjo Kazooie was mere milliseconds away from fifth place, but it was not to be.

The big controversy was saved for the Cup finale. On the last lap when fighting the other Koopra Sport for 3rd, Waluigi hit Kokkoro and was subsequently penalised heavily for the reckless manoeuvre. While he finished third on track, he took no points as his teammate Luigi took another second position. Toad was the shock double winner, taking all of BMW's points after six straight runs in the dark.

[Rob Dylan]

Diddy Kong Racing - Spring Rounds

Diddy Kong Racing returned with a bit more legitimacy this time around. 11 karts, five of which were souped up and the other six part of the DKR spec provisions. It was probably about the same "all-star cast" that previous series runner Mario Mario had always promised, but here at least everyone wanted to be here and everyone knew what they were getting in for. Even the spec series runners started their own Lewis Hammerton Trophy for drivers not in the best karts, doing their best in the disadvantaged machinery they had.

All over it was a positive scene. Daisy von Sarasaland was the biggest name to cross the pond and enter the series, while Pauline Wiliams entered in a suspiciously fast custom kart. It was indeed Williams who dominated the opening round at DK Jungle Parkway. Conker had a brilliant run while series champion Whomp King suffered a mechanical fault.

The 2000 champion had more woes at the Ancient Lake, as he crashed on the back straight. This time, Daisy took her first win in her second race - Pauline crashed out at the last corner and skipped the trees. Bluesaurus was a shock second, only fractions off his first win in the series. Having just returned from his ignominious exit in Mario Kart, he was elated with the result.

Fossil Canyon saw another win for Daisy, while Pauline challenged her in second. The order was set for the rest of the season, as almost nobody could challenge even closely to those front rnuners except for Conker. Jungle Falls saw Daisy crash at the temple area while DK3 took his first win of the year. Whomp King took third, which was a relef after his DNQ the previous round.

[Rob Dylan]

Diddy Kong Racing - Summer Rounds

The summer was as cold and snowy as ever in Diddy Kong Racing. Wiz Pig got benched by the organisers for being so slow. In his place went the returning Tiny Kong, recovered from her near-year-long injury from last season. Sadly she scored no points in the three rounds, while Daisy continued her domination of the series to take a healthy lead for the final three rounds to come. Neither Pauline nor DK3 were able to consistently challenge, whether it was from poor qualifying or from sheer poor pace. The less said about Bluesaurus the better.

[Rob Dylan]

Diddy Kong Racing - Autumn Rounds

Two races brought us to the finale of DK Jungle Parkway this year. Whale Bay and Crescent Island offered jam-packed action-heavy events. The series shocked the audiences when defending champion Whomp King was again unable to qualify at the first round. Daisy's incredible form gave her the 2001 championship with a round to spare, while DK3's win in the first event was ruined by a crash in the second. How typical!

[Rob Dylan]

Star Cup

Pure dominance. Waluigi showed the form that only great champions possess as he took a mighty 27 more points to add to his championship challenge. Luigi's win at Wario Stadium was followed by three consecutive retirements, often from the lead and often from collisions. Birdo won from the madness at Sherbet Land, while Kokkoro did the same at Bowser's Castle. It seemed that Pipsy had found her form as well for BMW, putting podiums on the scoresheet for them. The biggest event was the disqualification and race ban for Morton Koopa, whose reckless crash in Sherbet Land took off five other karts. He himself was quite winded from the collision and will take some time to recover.

[Rob Dylan]

Diddy Kong Racing - Finale

DK Jungle Parkway again brought pain and glory. And confusion, because Pauline Williams didn't show up. The confirmed runner-up of 2001 left the country and was replaced by Goombario. The latter's place got taken by a cameo performance of Iggy Koopa. The race was won by Goombario in his private-entry debut, putting him as a hot prospect for 2002!

[Rob Dylan]

Special Cup

The Special Cup featured everything we have come to expect of 2001. Except for the Mitsuyoshi 1-2 at DK Jungle Parkway. Otherwise it was Luigi and Toad falling over each other to see who could choke the hardest or whose kart could break down faster. It all seemed rather easy for Waluigi, but then again it so often does for the great drivers. In only his second season, Waluigi won the Mario Kart World Championship with two races remaining - phenomenal stuff. Toad was handed a win following Luigi's disqualification from Yoshi Valley, while Kokkoro had been so strong so consistently this year that she took third in the championship!





the "deja vu" award goes to Toad Toadstool, who was "kind of there" for the umpteenth year. While the BMW was not the greatest kart on the grid this year, he was still able to be "kind of there", like he is almost every year. One wonders if they will come up with a championship winner, will he win the season or finish 3rd overall yet again?

the "most improved award" probably goes to Kokkoro Toudou, who took home a mighty three wins and was a genuine contender for runner-up in the standings, in a year during which one team totally dominated the pace.

the "why are we still here?" award goes to Para Troopa, who after a magnificent series of crashes was behind a Kameklaren in the standings with a best finish of 7th overall. The 1995 championship gets further and further away from passing memory.

the Reject of the Year award must surely go to Larry Koopa, who decided to leave Koopra Sport for better things, only to see his former team at perhaps their best ever and three wins, with his own brother taking his place and half of the glory. While he beat his teammate, Larry seems to have beaten his own career into the dirt.