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Your C64's gotta lotta throttle with two new grand prix games just out. Pole Position needs no introduction to game fans who will be familiar with it from the arcades where it was one of the biggest hits of all time.

The game was launched originally on the Atarisoft label - a rather pricey cartridge at £31, but US Gold have now obtained the rights to the game and produced a tape-based version - at a much more accessible £9.95.

Pole Position features three different race circuits. The first of these is a practice run which is a solo drive with no other racers to contend with.

The easiest of the competition drives is the Monaco Grand Prix with the least number of obstacles to contend with. Slightly tougher is the Namco Speedway - but the toughest race of all is the Datasoft 500.

Graphics are excellent in this game. There is a real sensation of speed and considerable skill is required to drive the car. Nice little touches like the advertising hoardings on the side of the track have been converted faithfully from the arcade original.

Pitstop II is an Epyx title - sold in the UK by CBS. This promised well, as the last CBS/Epyx disk I played was Impossible Mission - last month's Screenstar and one of the best computer games of all time.

Six real circuits are on offer here: Brands Hatc, Hockenheim, Sebring, Watkins Glen, Rouens Les Essarts and Vallelunga. The game uses a unique split screen technique to enable you to race 'head to head' against an opponent or the computer.

There are several gameplay options - including skill levels, name and opponent's name (I was Nelson Piquet and the C64 was Nicki Lauda). The graphics in this game are head and shoulders above Pole Position. The strategy element of having to change tyres in the pits also adds an extra degree of realism.

If you were hooked on Pole Position in the arcades, you probably won't be able to resist the C64 version but, for my money, Pitstop II is the better game.