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The latest and so far greatest in a line of car racing software for BBCs is Software Invasion's 3D Grand Prix. Software Invasion has always been renowned for the quality graphics in its games and 3D Grand Prix is no exception. Judging from the loading time, the program is squeezing code into every nook and cranny of the BBC memory map. The game certainly will not work on any hybrid BBC systems, with certain ROMs or Aries for instance.

The authors, Dave Mendes and Mick O' Neal, have produced a superb Mode 2 screen. In the far distance is the range of blue mountains (these might seem a bit out of place at Silverstone or Brands Hatch but do acknowledge the influence of Atarisoft's Pole Position). The track stretches out ahead with green verge and red and white edging.

The player/drive views the action from low down in the cockpit of his car, the dashboard directly in front, the front tyres, nose end and aerofoil beyond. The impression of movement is given by the red and white bands switching colours and is reinforced by the apparent rotation of the tyre tread.

To some extent, 3D Grand Prix is a compilation of other well-loved formula one games, such as Turbo 64 (gear changing), Chequered Flag (Spectrum, different tracks and cockpit) and of course Pole Position, originally on the Atari but now also available as a BBC version. The latter differs in that you drive a car which you can see on the track. In 3D Grand Prix you are actually on the track. When other cars pass you, they slide by your shoulder and when you pass them, you have to time the moment you cross back into their path.

When cars do appear over your shoulder the 3D perspective is pretty good. The cars are line drawings with some colour fill to distinguish between them. As they move off into the distance, the perspective is less realistic. By then however you are probably hauling on your joystick trying to get enough power to chase and overtake.

Overtaking appears very easy for your computer-controlled competitors, not so easy for the player/driver. It is nigh on impossible without using good chunks of the grass verge. Slowing down and slipstreaming (although there is no perceptible speed increase as in real racing), followed by a wide turn around one of the Silverstone bends can do the trick. You have to make sure that you get back onto the track before one of the bollars turns up and brings the race to a crashing halt. Recovery from such a crash is immediate, but you have to accelerate from scratch after moving down into the lower gears. There is little chance of taking emergency action to avoid a bollard, if you are going at any half decent speed that is. You have to "learn" the features of each track.

Now and again the gauge on the left hand side of the dash may indicate that you have reached maximum temperature. There does not appear to be any need to panic however since there are no discernible adverse effects.

Unlike Pole Position, there is no bunching of cars, no weaving in and out, more a succession of one to one duels. If you succeed in coming home amongst the first four on Silverstone you move on to Brands Hatch and from there into the other international circuits.

Features include joystick/keyboard switch (the centre of your steering wheel indicates which one you are in), volume controls and full information on screen about current position, score and high score.

What really grabs you about 3D Grand Prix is the graphics, then you realise that thiis is a difficult game and get down to the challenge of winning, or at least progressing onto new tracks. Unlike Pole Position, you cannot drive ferociously around the track, outstripping the opposition. More subtlety is required and some tactical racing. 3D Grand Prix is more like the real thing from that point of view and overall an exciting and lasting game.