This blog was written by Derrick Carlisle, Jaguar Racing's Social Media Manager
Home of the Season X ECS and Season 13 MCS Champions
As if you needed any reminders of what happened last season...but I'll happily remind you anyway. Last season was the greatest season in the history of this organisation as we managed 8 wins across the season in both tiers (9 if you count the Exhibition), including that all-important one in Tundra Falls at the end of the season that would grant us our first ever Cup Series title in our 5th season in this sport. The fact we had 3 drivers make it to the final weekend with a shot at a title was crazy enough, but getting the big one caused massive celebrations across the International Community and a general buzz around TJUN-ian racing that hasn't gone away, not by a long shot.
But the feelings that emerge as we return to the NSSCRA arena are ones of change and unknowing.
The hunters now have the targets at their backs and now, shit will get real. Things have certainly changed during the offseason and while all of our cars are guaranteed charters, the fact this Cup Series grid is now 62 cars long is just incredible beyond comprehension. Who saw North China coming back? or Quebec debuting? Or the fucking Nimbus System stepping into the stock car arena?!
Even we had to deal with change during the off-season, but we'll talk about that later.
"ÍSFRÚIN" HARPA GYLFISDÓTTIR Age: 32
Place of Birth: Nýttheimili, NAU Zone
twii.tur @: @IsfruinJR
Managing Style: Straight And To The Point, Not Afraid To Make A Statement If Required
NSSCRA 13 Record: WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS, MOTHERFUCKER!
Favourite TJUN Rep: Froslass (Faroe Islands/FRO)
Favourite TJUN-Tunes Song:
Gorillaz - Charger (feat. Grace Jones)Nýttheimili's finest and the sister of famous goalie Harold Gylfisson, you could safely say that Harpa Gylfisdóttir was happy that Daniel Marx bottled being the Team Manager the way he did because now she was the leader of a NSSCRA-winning team and no one in the whole multiverse could take that away from her. Getting those 8 (or 9) wins across the season and the MCS title only did wonders for her team's stature within the NSSCRA community and suddenly, her Chase Contender had suddenly become the Team To Beat in the blink of an eye. How JR will deal with being the ones with the crown will certainly be interesting to see, as will the fact the team had to change things in T2 rather suddenly, but she will enter this new season hoping that this team can defend that crown with pride if nothing else.
The whole team shall wear golden armbands, on her command, until the crown leaves our possession.
DERRICK CARLISLE Age: 28
Place of Birth: Riverside, JagBase TJUN-ia
twii.tur @: @JagRacing (team) or @DCarJR (personal)
Blogging Style: Tries To Get As Much Down As Possible, Really Good (In My Opinion)
NSSCRA 13 Record: Not A Saint, But Not Too Bad Either
Favourite TJUN Rep: Bisharp (United Arab Emirates/UAE)
Favourite TJUN-Tunes Song:
Disciples - On My MindAh yes, me! The Derrick Carlisle, the man who writes all the blogs for JR (including this one right now) is back at it again for another season! Of course, we will have MOTR and MemeWatch back for the 4th time, but I have been told that I shouldn't "let representing the defending champions get to your head" - Isfrúin's words, not mine. I will certainly try my best to do just that although if I do fuck that up, feel free to complain about that in your preferred medium. It should be interesting nonetheless and I hope you all have a good time
#07 MICHAEL "KAISER" STEFAN Age: 25
Place of Birth: Studtgraff, NAU Zone
twii.tur @: @Stefan07
Driving Style: Consistent Aggression (A Mark From His Open-Wheel Days)
NSSCRA 13 Record: Multiversal Cup Series Champion (5050CPts/2 Wins)
Overall Win Count: 8
Favourite TJUN Rep: Ludwig von Koopa (Germany/GER)
Favourite TJUN-Tunes Song:
Queen - Bohemian RhapsodyThe most famous son of Studtgraff and the German community as a whole, Michael Stefan's 1-year absence from the Cup Series Chase ended up becoming the greatest thing that could've happened to him, the reset allowing him to refind his confidence and push on to become NSSCRA's Kaiser, a nickname the media adopted and one he will fully embody for this season as a result (not in a cocky way though, just because it sounded fitting to him). Studtgraff went fucking nuts as soon as he won that crown, with talks of a statue and a street named after him being floated in the local council, but right now, the only thing the Kaiser is concerned about is defending that crown and the experience of being the defending champion. Oh, and chilling with his boyfriend as well. Can't forget about that one.
#64 ALFONSO MERCADO Age: 23
Place of Birth: San Pedro del Vasquez, UAC Zone
twii.tur @: @AM64
Driving Style: With Youthfulness and Ability (i.e. He's Pretty Good!)
NSSCRA 13 Record: 3rd (5037CPts/1 Win+Ex/Chase Championship 4)
Overall Win Count: 2 (3 if you count S13 Ex)
Favourite TJUN Rep: Miles "Tails" Prower (Spain/ESP)
Favourite TJUN-Tunes Song:
Years & Years - Palo SantoSan Pedro del Vasquez had a representative in the NSSCRA Championship Four and while the honours went to his boyfriend on the day, the effort that Alfonso Mercado put in last season should not be forgotten at all. Many expected Mercado to not reach the same highs he did in NSSCRA 11, being the only Jag in the Chase and making it to the Top 8, but the fact he made the Final 4 alongside Stefan showed once and for all that JR was not a 1-man band in the MCS and should never be considered that from here on out. Of course, the main aim for the offseason was cuddling the new champion (and why the hell not) but now that the race suits are back on, the aim for Mercado is to try and make another deep run by making it back to the Chase. Right now, he's happy the team has gold...but would winning the crown himself keep it that way? Who knows.
#03 MADDISON RILEY-JONES Age: 24
Place of Birth: Wollongmatta Bay, UO Zone
twii.tur @: @MaddyRJ03
Driving Style: Fun On The Outside, Determination Within! (i.e. She's Fun To Talk To, But You Don't Want To Cross Her On The Track!)
NSSCRA 13 Record: 17th (798pts)
Overall Win Count: 4 Total/1 in T1
Favourite TJUN Rep: Sticks the Badger (Australia/AUS)
Favourite TJUN-Tunes Song:
Men At Work - Down UnderHailing from Wollongmatta Bay in the UO Zone (which is just the Manufano Islands), Maddy (as she prefers to be called) is now not the only Champion JR has within its ranks as the former inaugural Contenders Series Champion was joined by Micky in the JR section of the TJUN-ian Hall of Fame. Of course, she was happy for her teammate, but now, our Aussie giant is starting to feel like the odd one out in our T1 program as the only one not to even make the T1 Chase yet. That, obviously, will be the main goal of her 4th season in the top tier and she will be hoping to do just that and feel like she is really contributing to the overall effort of the team (even though we continue to tell her that she is doing just fine). Of course, she will still have her cheerleader behind her...but in an unexpected capacity.
OPEN CHARTER/TEST DRIVER
#97 ROBIN DRAGONOVIC Age: 26
Place of Birth: Trunskt,
South Newlandia (now resides in Wollongmatta Bay, UO Zone)
twii.tur @: @RD97SNL
Driving Style: Certainly Has Talent, But Is Humble With A Capital H.
NSSCRA 13 Record: 12th (3108CPts/2 Wins/T2 Chase Top 12)
Final(?) Win Count: 5 (6 if you count PS11)
Favourite TJUN Rep: IDK If He Knows What This Is...
Favourite TJUN-Tunes Song: Same Here...
South Newlandia's finest actually didn't do too badly last season in the EverLong Contenders Series, managing to win 2 races and make the Top 12 of the Chase, but it was a "lack of drive" combined with a "renewed focus on my own wellbeing" that would lead to the shock decision to retire from full-time running. It certainly was a shock to the system for everyone in the JR ranks and while his abilities will be a big hole to fill, we certainly understand his decision and hope he does well for himself no matter what. He has been retained by JR as a Test driver, who will be looking to make sporadic appearances in T1 events as an Open Charter.
#96 ALICE JEPKOSGEI Age: 21
Place of Birth: Jiji la Ngao (a.k.a. Shield City), AU Zone
twii.tur @: @AJ98
Driving Style: This Young Lady Has Pride On Her Side, As Well As A Bit Of Attitude!
NSSCRA 13 Record: #96 - 2nd (5033CPts/1 Win/T2 Championship Four)
Overall Win Count: 3
Favourite TJUN Rep: Sableye (Kenya/KEN)
Favourite TJUN-Tunes Song:
Benny Cristo - omagaThe unexpected semi-retirement of Robin Dragonovic means that Jiji la Ngao's Alice Jepkosgei will be considered the new leader of the JRT2 program, which is certainly deserved after making it all the way to the Final 4 of last season's Contenders Series and ending up as last season's runner up. Being the first bridesmaid to Pyotr Lavrentiev, who will be back to defend his crown, certainly put her in the conversation to make another deep run this time and while that is certainly good and all, she will hope to answer those lofty ambitions on the track when the time comes. Her boyfriend will do so as well, of course...
#70 GONGMING GAO Age: 28-ish
Place of Birth: Lanzhou, The Northern Chinese Republic (now resides in Tiankong, CEA Zone with weekends in Jiji la Ngao, AU Zone)
twii.tur @: @GG70
Driving Style: Was Just About There For Beiyang, Now Has To Fight Despite Everything Around Him
NSSCRA 13 Record: 13th (2261CPts/2 Wins/T2 Chase)
Overall Win Count: 4
Favourite TJUN Rep: I Don't Think He Cares About This.
Favourite TJUN-Tunes Song: Or This TBH.
Gongming Gao slightly regressed last season, making the T2 Chase but did not really make his own personal impact, but he was undoubtedly impactful overall as his performances as the "ultimate wingman" would help his GF AJ make the Final 4 in the end. While helping AJ out certainly felt good emotionally, he himself aspires for greater things and hopes to try and make his own run in the near future. Not being the newest JR recruit in the team may help psychologically, though no one knows to what degree.
#79 AXEL CHASE Age: 18
Place of Birth: Port Neptune, CU Zone
twii.tur @: @AxChase
Driving Style: Blink And You'll Miss Them, Both On Wheels and Legs
NSSCRA 13 Record: N/A
Overall Win Count: N/A
Favourite TJUN Rep: Dhelmise (Barbados/BAR)
Favourite TJUN-Tunes Song:
J Hus - Bouff DaddyThe main consequence of Robin Dragonovic's semi-retirement was the unexpected vacancy in the JRT2 programme...and considering this was a team who just won the fucking Cup last season, you better believe that this seat was in demand. Our offices were filled with applications from across TJUN-ia and beyond and in the end, the best 34 were sent to Jungle Circuit in order to prove their worth. We certainly collected plenty of data on the talent we could hold at our disposal but in the end, we announced our pick for that 6th seat via a press conference just one month ago.
And his name is Axel Chase.Hailing from Port Neptune in the CU Zone, a region more known for Athletics and Cricket above much else, the 18-year-old did have a background in track and field, but decided his best shot to stardom would be on wheels instead of on his feet. That means that while he can outsprint almost everyone on the NSSCRA grid (trust us, we tried), he's a sneaky good race driver on the track and is well-known back in the local scene for always sneaking his way into the Top 5 one way or another. That elusiveness may be due to his lack of aggression towards his opponents, well known back home for his laidback attitude and his snazzy dress code (white jacket, nice shoes, nice sunglasses and a smile that can make anyone drop their guard). He may look like the average Caribbean cool boy, but be careful...he can fight back when needed!
Current MCS Standings: #07 - N/A (0pts)/#64 - N/A (0pts)/#03 - N/A (0pts)
Current ECS Standings: #96 - N/A (0pts)/#70 - N/A (0pts)/#79 - N/A (0pts)
Next MCS Race: Exhibition at The Proving Grounds Presented by Rocket Automotive, Tundra Falls,
NewmanistanNext ECS Race: Prospect Showcase at The Proving Grounds Presented by Rocket Automotive, Tundra Falls,
NewmanistanMusic of the Round IV: Spandau Ballet - Gold (OKI/JPN/SKH)