ABOUT

Trackmania

For the uninitiated, Trackmania is the most serious non-simulator racing game available. It has a long legacy which has won over the hearts of many players.

In this series I'm rendering an old project with my most up-to-date techniques. The subject is my favourite car from my favourite entry - The Canyon Drift from Trackmania Turbo. A unique driving style with tight lengthy drifts. A welcoming vehicle that introduces the player to the magnitude of the learning curve behind the games' popularity. Fun for casual pick up and play, thrilling for the experienced series veteran.

In this reimagining I sought to break away from the form-fitting lines of the original and provide it with some extra flare. The roof has been removed to give a two-part look to the bodywork. The front blade has been removed, replaced with two distinct forward-hanging fenders. The aero throughout the car has been redesigned to present more aggressive lines. The rear fenders have been reshaped to hug the top of the wheels while accommodating the winglets below.

All in all, my goal was to enhance what I find to be one of the most interesting designs in the gaming industry. A vehicle which will seem outlandish to even those who recognise its influences. It stands to this day as the most unique Canyon car and a personal favourite.

Turbo

Trackmania Turbo introduced the players to a remix of all four environments the game series boasts. This new look brought us, among neon signs and LED panels, a new take on automotive design. The chassis is no longer contained within the body. It is instead presented as a rollercoaster of twists and turns popping in and out of the car's shell. In addition, different eras of retro styling and concepts are mixed with prototype-like elements to bring the designs to a twilight zone where fact meets fiction. Every single one brings an what if scenario to the observer's mind.

All this leaves a very clear direction for anyone to follow if they were to play with any of the designs. Picking the Canyon car I got to work focusing on its main inspiration - the Modified NASCAR class. These surreal looking machines present themselves with an offset body and a slim build. And while I believe the gigantic fuel tank is enough to make up for the offset design, the slender look stuck with me.

Not wanting to sacrifice the low sleek look at the rear, I turned to the front and pulled the front wheels forward far beyond the engine. Once there the next step was to add the flashy fenders over the front wheels. The modified class once allowed for such a ridiculous configuration an my imagination took over the creative process. For this series in particular I choose to make them clear as to better show just how much they stretch the car's nose and just how far behind them the engine sits. Other changes pale in comparison.

Super Stock

As is to be expected when changing a design's style, many changes will have to be made throughout. Simply recreating the original design would've felt boring and disconnected from the way it is presented.

With both my older and newer presentations the car calls for aggressive aero, serious-looking wheels, detailed suspension and angular bodywork.

The very first changes lay with the chassis. The side safety bars have been raised beyond the tires' height as both front and rear are now covered with bodywork. The roof section now presents an aggressive design to carry the lines between the front and rear. The nose section has been drastically elongated to accommodate the new front-mid engine layout.

The aero has seen a drastic overhaul with a three element roof spoiler and redesigned rear blades, splitter and diffuser. The sabe can be said of the now sharper lines of the bodywork.

Finally, all mechanical detail was either developed or reviewed to fit this design. New angles and elements permeate the center sections of both front and rear ends.

It has been a joy revisiting this project and presenting it with new lighting and texturing. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.