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Around this time of year, BBC2 screens a sports program with a very catchy signature tune - written by Fleetwood Mac I believe.

It has to do with a bunch of Formula One racing cars spinning around a track at tremendous speeds. And its commentary is by a person who gets overexcited very easily. Yes, you guessed it, the Grand Prix season has started.

So it's no coincidence that Codemasters has released its latest offering for the 8-bit Atari - Grand Prix Simulator - at this time.

The game uses an overhead view with up to three cars driving around the twelve different, and very difficult, circuits - very similar in style to Super Sprint on the Atari ST.

Each circuit is cunningly designed to make life as dangerous as possible for you as you drive under bridges and through oil slicks in an attempt to beat the computer, your opponent, or both to the finish.

The digitised speech used throughout the game is of a low standard when you compare it to other games. There again, this is a budget title.

You control your red car using a joystick plugged into port one. Pressing fire accelerates it and then all you have to do is steer round the hairpin bends and try to avoid smashing into everything.

Remember that a head-on steering technique is employed, so push left to go right and vice versa.

The game supports simultaneous two player action with the second drive controlling the yellow car via a joystick plugged into port two. The purple car is the computer-controlled drone and drives a pretty mean race.

As with the TV series, the game employs a catchy signature tune but, this one isn't written by Fleetwood Mac. All the same, it's quite nice. There is a section on the cassette inlay describing a racing drive called Johnny Dumfries who has played the game and endorsed it. He says it's an exciting and fun simulator to play. All I can say is "Johnny who?"

The graphics are very good, even though your car looks like a brick on two wheels going around a track. The circuits are well depicted with splendid use of colour.

At times the sound effects leave a bit to be desired but you are restricted in what noises you make within a car game - the revving engine and screech of tyres are all that really spring to mind.

Grand Prix Simulator is very enjoyable and tremendous fun to play, especially when in two player mode. It's a good laugh to watch your opponent crash into the barriers or get stuck under the bridges and not be able to find his way out.

The only thing I can criticise is the steering - it's just as well your car bounces instead of explodes when it hits a wall or bridge, because that's what I spent most of my time doing. If you like car games but are a little bored by the head-on perspective, give this one a try.

Superb playability and excellent value for money far outweigh the criticisms I can level at it. At £1.99 you can't go wrong!