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If you're expecting a Pole Position-type game you'll be disappointed but what you do get is an engaging strategy game putting you at the head of a racing driving team for a full Formula One Grand Prix season.

The game simulates the 16-race season with your team taking part and trying to lift the drivers and constructors world championships. Your first task is to pick the number of players from one to six, the computer controls those you don't operate. You can pick any of six teams and two sponsors to give you money. Drivers also have to be selected from the list of 24, including six novices who you can name yourself. But the more experienced drivers cost more to employ.

The two cars in the team have to be fitted out with an engine, chassis and pit crew to make them race-worthy. These all cost money and for the first few races it may only be possible to outfit one car properly. Each car's efficiency is given in percentage form and takes into account the driver's ability. If a car doesn't make the grade it won't be allowed to race.

Now you get around to the race. The details of the racetrack, weather conditions, past winner and lap record are given. In light of the weather and temperature you have to select tyres for the race. There are five compounds of tyre soft, medium or hard slicks, intermediates or rain tyres. The cars' grid positions are now determined and the race begins.

The race can be viewed in full or just in highlights with events like spins, crashes, punctures and tyre changes being noted for all cars. The screen shows the start, the finishing straight with a crowd turning their heads and cars whizzing by or pulling into the pits. A score board shows the current race positions with the time gaps between the first six cars. When a car comes into the pits an overhead view is shown with five pit crew, four holding tyres and one on his own. You control the fifth man and have to replace all four tyres and if necessary do work on the engine or chassis as well. The tyres can be of a different compound to those started on and you can specify this before changing. This is handy if weather conditions change and you have to call your cars into the pits.

At the end of the race, points are awarded: nine for first then six, four, three, two, one. These are added to the overall totals. Prize money and sponsorship money are then awarded depending on your success. This cash can be put into improving the cars' performance and you can even have side bets on the winner of each race. The game then repeats itself for another fifteen races.

The race graphics aren't brilliant but manage to convey some of the tension of real racing as the cars' positions shift about. The strategy element is quite compulsive trying to get the cars to peak performance and get the tyres and pit stops right. It's certainly one for the enthusiast - but has wider appeal as well.

I don't usually appreciated anything to do with motor racing, what with all that noise and Murray Walker droning on about carburetors and camshafts. But I really enjoyed this - there are huge amounts of money to squander and it's fun to see your driver changing positions throughout the races, even if these are a little long-winded.

P. 16 grand prixs make a nice long season.
P. Excellent for more than one player as cars battle it out.
P. A tough challenge on higher levels against the computer.
P. Great fun if you like motor racing.

N. Perhaps not enough to do for some.
N. Graphics could be a mite better.