German Trackmania pro player Nico "GranaDy" Gyarmati came agonizingly close to winning the Red Bull Faster event but ultimately lost out to Solary's Carl-Antoni "Carl Jr." Cloutier in a dramatic grand final showdown.
The deciding moment came when GranaDy’s car lost momentum after hitting a plastic section of the track, an incident that some are calling an unfortunate bug, while others argue it was simply an unlucky driving error.
A Narrow Path to the Finals
GranaDy, regarded as Germany’s best Trackmania player and representing BIG, had a difficult journey to the grand final. His spot was not guaranteed, as he only just made it through the Final Chance bracket by securing fourth place. However, once in the semifinals, he delivered a spectacular performance, mounting a huge two-map comeback to book his place in the grand final against Trackmania’s most decorated player, Carl Jr.
Im sorry but @GranaDyy got robbed from the win by a bug. I don't know what the solution would be but Granady in my eyes is the winner of the event and the reaction from the crowd and the look on Carl and Granady's face says it all.Still super fun to watch tho this was sick pic.twitter.com/xL3Nt5wpL1
— Kale (@kyosh1da) March 1, 2025
The final match between the two stars was a thrilling battle, showcasing high-level Trackmania gameplay at its finest. With both players trading wins, it all came down to the last map, where GranaDy had the chance to claim victory with just one final jump. But in a heartbreaking moment, his car clipped the plastic section of the track, causing it to lose momentum. That mistake handed the win - and the $10,000 difference in prize money - to Carl Jr.
Bug or Player Error? The Community Reacts
The Trackmania community has been divided over whether GranaDy's moment of misfortune was a game bug or a minor driving mistake. Some argue that his car’s loss of momentum was an unintended mechanic of the game, unfairly robbing him of the title. Others, however, believe that the mistake was purely on him, caused by a slight misalignment in his jump.
One user on Twitter/X explained their perspective:
Im sorry but this isnt a bug, no matter how unlucky it was. Misaligned setup causing the car to hit the plastic with the wheel (rubber) and not the nose (metal). Super miniscule mistake and it feels bad to lose like this.
— forever (@frvrtm) March 2, 2025
Despite the debate, GranaDy himself took the incident in stride. His immediate reaction was a short and frustrated post:
delete plastic
— BIG GranaDy (@GranaDyy) March 1, 2025
However, he soon followed up with a more positive take on the match and his overall performance:
jokes aside, amazing match and super happy with my performanceggs to the others and especially @CarlJrtm, super happy I managed to challenge him that match and super happy with 2nd place in general, just the ending was a bit unfortunate
— BIG GranaDy (@GranaDyy) March 1, 2025
A Performance to Be Proud Of
Despite the painful ending, GranaDy’s run at Red Bull Faster was nothing short of remarkable. Making it into the final four was already an achievement, and his ability to fight back in both the semifinals and grand final proved his resilience. He pushed Carl Jr. to the very limit, something very few players have managed to do on such a big stage.
For German Trackmania fans, there is plenty to celebrate. GranaDy once again proved he is one of the best in the world, and while the $10,000 difference in prize money may sting, his performance in Red Bull Faster solidifies his place among the top-tier elite of the game.