It has been just 5 days, since I took a sneak peek inside the minds of the FANS in a post titled “Crystal Ball Gazing’. Since then the winning teams have come to Mumbai and are battling it out at the Royal Palms. The numbers of Fans have more than doubled since the last polls and it now appears that there is a significant shift. Two of the ‘earlier fan predicted TOP 3’ have managed to hold on to their lead, but the contest is heating up (in the minds of the fans) for the third slot. Several teams are in the consideration - and the order has become completely ulta-pulta. With the no-show by one team, the list is pruned to Top 11.

Here is a comparison matrix of the normalized FAN scores. As always, this post comes with a disclaimer that these FAN prediction statistics have no bearing on final decision of Jury.

TGDC Fans,

We would like to thank you, once more, for following your favorite team on “Mitsubishi Cedia Sports The Great Driving Challenge”. As you are aware, you stand a chance to win a FREE ticket to Singapore for the Grand Prix 2009, if your selection of TOP 3 favorite teams ‘match’ the final results to be declared soon. As you are aware the 3 day selection process is now drawing to a close.

There will be a lucky draw tomorrow (Aug 6th) after the TOP 3 winners are declared, and announcements for the lucky FAN winner will be made the day after.

If you have not made your selection yet, or would like to change your mind, please log in (or sign-up as a fan)  and enter your favorites for TOP 3, in the settings page. Remember you will need to have a profile picture, correct name and email, to be considered for the lucky draw.

The gates will close today evening (around 8pm), and the website will NOT accept any more entries or changes. Make sure your choices for TOP 3 are final NOW.

I have been up since 5AM, and just finished reading through each and every one of your posts, pictures, videos. You guys made my all misty-eyed - oh man - really!
Looking at the same city (I supposedly know)  from 11 different angles, that is what made this exercise so special, I guess.

Unni discovered the amazing “flag-makers”, and Gaurav took us to Dhobi Ghat. @Doc/Elena - I really loved that guy in that beret, and your documentary - never been there yet :(  Rishi you captured the angels in the slums so poignantly - and of course your music track (sneaked in the champions bit, huh); and Charu - that passing remark from the mehendi seller on Chowpatty is going to haunt you some time - right? Maya - I am glad you found aamchi mumbai -‘satisfying, spicy, eclectic’. Rooshad - there was no need to wake me up from my “Sapna” - you want to get me slaughtered? Mad or what? Hey Pavithra - I am glad you are hooked to Vada Pao - the Mc versions are on their way. Jumbo King and GoliVada et al. So ain’t I glad you guys got the taste of the real thing. Amit - Jhakkas, Bindaas, DhinChak - you guys captured it all - loved the ties - I am going to hunt them down Radhika - your pictures still melt my heart - remember the brickbats when I posted them first on the blog? Thomas _ i am glad you did the caves. This is one place that completely captivates you, as you stand in front of that amazing vista and imagine the times before Christ - that same very spot, monks scurrying around. The close up of those eyes were fantastic. Jo-Nam Thanks to you tweets and Rupesh tailgating you, I followed you down the entire trip. Nam you looked cute but Jo - you forgot to spike, buddy.

You guys are ALL amazing, and I do not even want to start thinking about what the judges are thinking. But quoting a comment from Prof Dilip D/Souza who closely follows this blog (and now is fighting a limerick battle with me offline), I hope the esteemed Jury reads through each and every word of these 11 amazing stories you guys published yesterday night, and clicks on every video, (which I guess is being buffered ahead of time by Team TGDC).

I salute you all, my friends.

Post updated at 12 Noon: The Jury is indeed on the blog review with complete seriousness, and as you can see from the updates in FB, are going through each and every post. Way to go Jury!