A group of my friends have a LAN party once or twice a year, usually around 10-15 people, and I’d like to try (re) introducing Trackmania.

We used to play Trackmania 2 Canyon back in the day, but TM has been absent from LANs for quite some time now, and the group has shifted enough that many weren’t around for those days.

I’m looking for ideas on how to structure a local session to maximize fun for everyone, including those unfamiliar with Trackmania. We do play Wreckfest, so there is at least some disposition to racing games.

I’m thinking of hand selecting some beginner-intermediate level maps that aren’t too long (so finishing isn’t too challenging), and doing a rotating time attack to get the ball rolling. I might throw in some lol maps to keep things not as sweaty (as some members are quite good at TM).

After everyone is warmed up and feeling good, I’m hoping to do an elimination “tournament” (like cup of the day) to generate some hype for a final showdown. This could be less fun for some due to knock outs, but with a short enough map it could be pretty fun.

I’m thinking TM 2020 would be my ideal, but TMNF might be easier to get setup and going.

If you’ve done something similar with Trackmania, I’d love to hear your thoughts.