The R1 Esports Time Trial Competition featuring Mario Kart 8 is back!  We are excited to bring this asynchronous, online competition back to our Region One schools.  This type of format will allow esports programs at each campus to have their students compete locally.  They will then take the best time and submit it to our region-wide leaderboard to compete against other Region One schools.  

Building off of last year's success with this format, we will be continuing with a 4-track competition and leaderboard.  This means there will be 4 tracks to compete throughout the year.  Your ranking in each track can give you points for an overall leaderboard to determine who is the top ranking team in Region One!  

Recognitions will be given per track and for the final leaderboard ranking. Your school can compete in one or all of the tracks. However, racing in all the tracks give you a better chance at scoring points for the final leaderboard.

Let’s take a look at the steps needed to enter the competition.

Step 1: Register for the event

Make sure to register for the event.  If you haven’t done so already, you can access the registration form here.  

It is important to provide an email address that you check daily when you register.  You will be emailed a game code and submission form link the day of the competition (more on this on the next steps). You only need to register once for the entire event. 

Step 2: Gather your students

Get your students together to discuss how this competition will work.  It’s up to you how you want to roll it out to your school.  You can make it exclusive to your Mario Kart team or open it up to the entire school!  It's also a great way to start an esports program.  

Track information will be emailed prior to the event to those who have registered using the form in step 1.  

Step 3: Compete!

The competition will go LIVE on the first day of the competition window at 9:00 a.m. and CLOSE on the last day of the competition window at 9:00 a.m.  During this window of time, students will try to get the best time at their campus. You can have them try all on one day or spread across multiple days.  

Students can practice this track before competition, at home or at school.  However, submissions will only be accepted during the window of time listed and must be completed on campus.

Each school is responsible for providing the console and game to students.  At the school's discretion, students can use their own console, game, and controllers on campus to participate as long as they follow the competition rules.

Don't forget to showcase your students on your school websites or social media accounts.  Use the #Region1Esports hashtag to show us how your school is competing in this event.

Step 4: Track the best time

As a coach/sponsor, you are responsible for keeping track of the best time at your campus.  This includes: 

1. the student’s first name and last name initial(s)

2. completion time

3. photo evidence.

For photo evidence, you will need to take a CLEAR photo.  Photo editing, such as stitching together images or digitally writing the game code on an image will not be accepted as valid evidence.  The image must be unedited and include the following two elements:

1. The results screen after the time trial is complete.  It will show the player’s completion time.

2. A paper (like a sticky note), that includes the game code that will be emailed to you the day competition starts.

Pro Tip: You do not need to track each trial run a student does.  Wait until someone beats the current top time at your school and then collect the needed information and photo.

Any submission without the proper photo evidence will not be included in the leaderboard.

Step 5: Submit your school's best time

You will be sent a form to submit your school’s top time.  This must be submitted within the competition window.  The time stamp will be used to validate the submission time.  Technical issues can occur, so it is recommended to submit with enough time before then. 

Keep in mind that each school can only have one top time PER division (such as Elementary and Coach/Sponsor division).  Schools that are eligible for multiple grade level divisions can submit one per grade level division, but only one coach/sponsor division.

Only coaches/sponsors should be submitting their results.  Coaches/sponsors are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the competition by completing their form accurately and without falsely representing results by altering it in any form.  Please do not share the submission link with students.

Step 6: Results and ongoing leaderboard.

Once results are ready, we will email coaches with the final results of the track and the current leaderboard standings.  Each track will give the top 12 teams points based on their rankings.  These points will accumulated through the 4 tracks for a final leaderboard ranking.

Recognitions will be made for the top 3 in each division for each track and for the final leaderboard ranking.

Schools are not required to compete in all 4 tracks, but it is highly recommended to give your school the opportunity to get the most points for the final leaderboard.

***These steps will repeat for all remaining tracks in the school year.  For more detailed rules and information, you can visit the competition rules page.

• Track 1: November 3-10, 2025

• Track 2: December 8-15, 2025

• Track 3: January 19-26, 2026

• Track 4: February 16-23, 2026