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Since the success of Atari's Pole Position in the arcades, there's been a rekindling of interest in car-racing games on a number of home computers. This latest effort for the BBC Micro goes one better than most of the others simply by incorporating bends.

The program loads using Software Invasion's peculiar technique of loading from block FF down - presumably all part of a protection system. You are put at the wheel of a Formula 1 racing car, fitted with rev counter, petrol gauge, gear indicator and speedo. Even the steering wheel rotates when you go round a corner. Each race is run over three laps of track, and there are a variety of these based on existing international circuits. To try all of them you have to finish in the first four on the previous race.

By revving up well before the start lights change to green and slipping quickly through the gears, you can usually get into the first bend in second position. Then it's just a question of finding a suitable spot to overtake number one. This you can do only by pulling half off the track, and you have to watch out for trackside hoardings, which can make a mess of your front end and cost you a place. Once in pole position you can follow the tail-enders for the rest of the race, although you occasionally get a nasty surprise in the third lap when the second-placed man sneaks through.

There are one or two inconsistencies in the program, but 3D Grand Prix is a lot of fun.