FORMULA ONE GRAND PRIX DOCS. ---------------------------- INTRODUCTION ------------ IMPORTANT --- READ THIS NOW !!!! :- THIS FILE IS *NOT* THE COMPLETE DOX. THE MANUAL GOES ON ABOUT A LOAD OF CRAP CONCERNING THE HISTORY OF Grand Prix ETC... THE DOX HERE ARE ENOUGH FOR ANYONE TO BE ABLE TO PLAY THE GAME AND TO HAVE SOME IDEA WHAT ALL THE VARIOUS OPTIONS DO. IF YOU REALLY WANNA KNOW THE HISTORY OF FORMULA ONE AND ALL THAT CRAP IM SURE YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY WILL BE HAPPY TO OBLIGE..................................... \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ You've watched the Formula One Grand Prix season on television. You've followed the championship battle and the duel between the worlds top two dozen drivers. You've read the sports reports, the features in the glossies and gaped at glamourous lifestyle pictures in gossip magazines. But you've never known what it's like to strap yourself into that sleek cockpit, don the brightly coloured helmet and wait on the starting grid for the green light to propel you into a full sixteen race grand prix season. Now you can take the wheel for the ultimate challenge to you driving skills. MicroProse Formula One Grand Prix leaves nothing to the imagination. The legendary Geoff Crammond, or "revs" and "Stunt Car Racer" fame, has designed the simulation that puts you right in the driver's seat. However, the simulation is not just about races, it's an attempt to show the complex decisions that have to be made by teams when setting up a car to race on a particular circuit. Can your car take more wing? Should you re-adjust the gear ratios? What about the Rookie driver who has never actually driven a car? We have included a Quickstart Learner's first lesson that guides the Rookie through several laps of the famous Monza circuit. Unlike most racing games MicroProse Formula One Grand Prix is packed full of detailed scenery from the original 16 circuits. If you have time you can admire the yacht in the harbour at Monaco or the Dome at Mexico City. MicroProse Formula One Grand Prix gives you the complete racing driver experience from stormy start to fiery finish. OVERVIEW -------- MicroProse Formula One Grand Prix us a complete simulation of the full championship season. At the end of the 16 races there are two trophies to be won: the Driver's and the Contructor's championship. It is always to tough to win even one Grand Prix race and, at the highest level we think youll ind it very difficult. However, for the less experienced drivers we have included 5 levels of difficulty with 6 major driving aids that, when fully implemented, will leave you free to race the car on a previously defined ideal line. You can even choose to redistribute the driving performance of all other drivers. You can even win the Championship at the lowest level but it will only be at the highest level of difficulty that you receive the ultimate accolade. THE MAJOR ELEMENTS OF THE SIMULATION ARE: QuickStart Driving Tutorial ---------- ------- -------- A drive through of the Monza circuit for Rookies. The best way to get to grips with the F1 car and to get to know the circuit. Cockpit and Car Controls ------- --- --- -------- Understand and learn all cockpit controls unt8l everything becomes second nature to you. Get used to looking in both mirrors and being aware of what is going on behind you. Car Set-up --- ------ You must find out how your car behaves on each circuit with various setups for wings, tyres, brakes and gears. Don't be afraid to experiment! As you improve and hone your driving skills, you will appreciate the value of things such as the correct wing downforce. Driving into the Pits. ------- ---- --- ---- It's essential to know where your pits are on every circuit and be able to get in and out safely and quickly. Practice any Circuit. -------- --- -------- Use these sessions to practise setups, driving styles and get to know all the circuits. You are alone on the circuit and there is no pressure to get a fast time. Get an impression of what should be a good lap time on every circuit. Free Practise. ---- -------- Acqaint yourself with the way the other cars are performing and what tactics they use for overtaking. This practise is used for setting up your car before qualifying practise, and you will get an idea of what a circuit is like with other cars roaring around it. Problems with your Car. -------- ---- ---- ---- A chance to review the way your car is handling around the circuit and be directed towards possible solutions. Qualifying/Timed Practise. -------------------------- Try to achieve a good grid placing. There will be more pressure on you at this point. Understand the limited life of qualifying tyres. Pre-race Practise. -------- --------- Your last chance to test and modify your chosen setup before the race. A non Championship Race. - --- ------------ ----- Compete in a full Grand Prix race will all the drivers going flat out to win. Learn how to make a good racing start when the green lights come on. Keep an eye on the developing pattern of the race. Avoid shunts because they will impair the car's handling and performance. Pit Stops During a Race. --- ----- ------ - ---- Practise driving into the pits quickly and efficiently for a timed tyre change and then straight out again on to the circuit. The Complete F1 Season. --- -------- -- ------ If you are proficient at all of the above then you will be ready to undertake a full racing season at the level of your choice. Can you survive sixteen difficult races ? End of Season Championships. --- -- ------ -------------- The final tables in the driver's and constructor's Championship. The Manual. --- ------- For more background and information on the Grand Prix racing teams, circuits, driving hints and general Grand Prix atmosphere. QUICKSTART ========== This manual will refer to the Accelarator, the Brake, Changing Gear and Steering. You will be able to control these functions by keyboard and joystick. Key 'K' toggles keyboard and joystick mode. The simulation is initially in joystick mode; the recommended method. The joystick movements are : Joystick Up = Accelarate. Joystick Down = Brake. Joystick Left = Turn Left. Joystick Right = Turn Right. Fire Button = Select. Accelarate + Select = Change gear up. Select while not accelarating = Change Gear Down. If you are using keyboard then the equivalent keys to the joystick movements are :- A and Z = Accelarate / Brake. < and > = Left and Right. Space = Select. The simulation does not support mouse control except during menu selection. The keyboard cursor keys can also be used to highlight menu options. ONE LAP OF MONZA FOR ROOKIES. ============================= Loading - Install and/or load the simulation and follow any on screen prompts until you see the MAIN MENU. Choose RACE SET-UP OPTIONS. Find RACE DISTANCE and reduce the figure to 10%. Find LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY and select ROOKIE. Return to MAIN MENU. Highlight the DRIVER SELECT menu. Select a driver and, if you wish, you may delete the name using the backspace key and type in your own name. Then select 'Driver Selection Complete'. Highlight 'Practise any Circuit' with you controller and press the selector. Highlight the CIRCUIT SELECT MENU. Select MONZA. You will see a view of the circuit. Choose INFO. This gives you the lap records and distance. Select OK. You will now find yourself in the pits an MONZA, Italy. Look at the cockpit controls. Accelarate with the controller and listen to the engine noise. Press the function keys F1,F2,F3,F4,F5 and check that each function key has illuminated 5 of the 6 symbols that appear on the dashboard panel. Each key turns on a driving aid to help you control the car. Do not press function key F6. You will not need to worry about changing gear or braking. You may crash if you stray from the racing line but you will not be damaged by any "shunt". If you spin off, the car will right itself, once it has come to rest. It will face the correct direction to continue the race. MONZA is an excellent circuit to practise on. It's fast with some good corners that let you get into a good driving rythm. It has also got lots of open spaces where you can leave the track without crashing into concrete walls. You are still in the pits, on the jack. Press the selector and when you have been lowered accelerate using your controller. You will begin to move forward. If not then check that you have pressed function function key F2 and that the symbol is lit on the display. When you leave the pits you will join the circuit by driving to one side of a yellow dotted line. Once you are on the circuit the yellow line will dissappear and you will see a white long dotted line; like the line that divides two way traffic in a normal road. Try to line up the middle of the steering wheel with dotted line as you move around the circuit. This is the best driving line; the ideal path to tak so that you can go into bends at the fastest possible speed. The first bend at Monza turns to the left then quickly to the right followed by another left and right. This is a double chicane called the Varainte Goodyear. If a joystick is being used press SPACE to pause the simulation. Otherwise press 'P'. You should now see a white sign with a black arrow bending to the left. Then countdown markers signs; 200 and 100. These signs tell you hown many meters to go before the approaching left hand bend. Steer carefully around the chicane. Try to follow the dotted line even though it sometimes appears to be aiming away from the track. Continue along the short straight and steer around the long sweeping right hand corner Curva Grande. You will find that you can drive through this corner quite fast. Just after the blue bridge you will see another sign warning you of a right turn. This is the Curva della roggia; another chicane. Sterr through the chicane then carefully along the two right hand curves. You will then see a long downhill straight. Accelarate on the straight. Take time to glance at the red gear indicator on the side of the steering wheel as the car changes gear automatically. Listen to the sound of the engine and watch the red power band on the rev counter move up and down the scale. At then end of the straight is an unusual chicane called the Variante Ascari. Gradually, you will find that the more you know about the approaching corners the easier they will be to drive through at the correct speed. Accelarate along the straight and see if the automatic gear change will put you into 6th gear before the autobrakes slow you down for the Curva Parabolica. Don't worry if it doesn't. Try to accelarate around this bend. As you come out of the corner you will see two grandstands, the pits and a yellow dotted line that marks the pit lane entrance. Keep following the white dotted line. You are now in the finishing straight. You will then see the starting grid, the 26 spaces where the cars are placed to start the race and a thick solid white line across the track will mark the end of one lap. Cross this line (the Start/Finish line). This is the end of the first lap but you will not be given a lap time until you complete a lap started from the Start/Finish line. Continue into another lap. Try to remember the corners and straights. When you complete the lap you will be given a lap time. Try another lap. Try to be faster! CONTROLLING YOUR OWN BRAKES ----------- ---- --- ------ When you feel confident of racing around the circuit. Press Function key F1. Check that the first symbol light has gone out. Now, you will have to control your own brakes. Remember how brakes are operated by your controller. Check the section at the beginning of the manual. This time you will have to cope with braking and steering around the same bends. Try another lap of Monza. It will feel different this time but try to gauge the right moment to apply the brakes. CONTROLLING YOUR OWN GEARS. ----------- ---- --- ------ Stop on a straight part of the circuit. After coming to terms with using the brakes press function key F2 once, and then press function key F6. This will cancel auto gear change and switch on the suggested gear indicator. The 'gate' symbol should go out and a blue indicator will appear just below the red gear indicator. Now you will be in control of all gear changes but when you see a number in the blue circle that will be the suggested gear to be in at the following corner. Check the method of gear change for your controller. Practise changinh gear and watch the red indicator. Try to get 'N' on the indicator. When you are in neutral accelarate. The engine should ref and make a high pitch noise. The red indicator should move across the curve r.p.m. scale. Don't worry about damaging the engine. Push the accelarator until the red band is around the 11 mark then press the selector to change gear but KEEP IT PRESSED IN. You should have changed into 1st gear; shown by the 1 on the gear change indicator (if not then the controller was not press forward when you pressed the selector, try again). You will not be moving forward because you are holding the car on the clutch (the selector pressed and held). Now, with the controller pressed forward, let the selector go! You will be moving forward. Listen to the change of tone in the engine noise. The mph indicator should show the speed you are travelling at. Accelarate again and watch the red power band get to about 12 on the dial, then change up again in the same way as before. The indicator will now show 2. Try to change up to at least 4th gear. Then try changing down to take a bend by taking note of the suggested gear indicator (the number in the blue circle). Note that it is not necessary to brake when changing down. Gear changing is difficult to master even if you are a seasoned driver but try to experiment with the gear shift. You have 6 forward gears, neutral, Power Turn (you can only change DOWN into this gear) and Reverse. When you are in reverse you will see 'R' on the gaer indicator. Accelarate with the controller just like in a real car to move backwards. DRIVING INTO THE PITS. ------- ---- --- ----- When you think you are fanmiliar with the Monza circuit and the basic car controls practise driving into the pits. The pits are where all repairs are carried out and where you are fitted with new tyres. You will have noticed the YELLOW DOTTED LINE just before the main grandstand straight. This is the line leading to the PitLane. Drive a complete circuit, during which at any time you may press 'return' to inform your pit crew of your intention to stop. You will see the pit signal on your instrument panel light up in yellow. This enables you to enter the pit lane when you see the dotted line. Drive slowly into the pit lane. You may see several pit crews waiting. As you continue forward motion aim the car towards the pit bays. The programme will direct you into the correct bay but you must brake just in front of the crewman directly ahead of you. You will be jacked up and a sign placed in front of the car telling you to keep your brakes on. A selection of tyre types appears on the digital display but don't worry about this for now. Press the selector and you will be jacked down. You can now drive away from the pits, weave through the pit-lane, then carefully re-join the circuit. A TIMED PRACTISE/QUALIFYING SESSION. - ----- -------- ---------- ------- Press ESC to return to the MAIN MENU. Choose NON-CHAMPIONSHIP RACE and then QUALIFYING/TIMED PRACTISE. You will be placed back in the pits, jacked up but this time you will have a monitor appear in front of your car. It will list drivers in the qualifying session includin yourself (highlighted). You will also see the tyre choice display A B C D Q W. Q should be chosen but try to move the controller left/right to see the effect. Then back to Q. You will be running on qualifying tyres. Good for about 3 fast laps. You have four sets for this session but you can use any other tyres if you so wish. You are still in ROOKIE level. If you want to drive with Auto Gears, Auto Brakes or any other driving aids you can. Press the selector. The monitor will move out of the way and your car will be jacked down. Drive away from the pits to the circuit and then complete one lap. You will not be timed until you have passed the start/finish line. Then you will see that the car timer has begun. Race around the circuit for 1 lap then, as you cross the line your lap time will be displayed. You should return to the pits now but if you were held up for some time there may be enough life in your tyres for another fast lap. Don't push your luck too soon unless you want to find out what it's like to drive on bad tyres! Drive to your bay, wait to be jacked up. The monitor should reappear in front of you with various times from the other drivers in the timed practise session. The session last up to 2 hours. To speed up the time accelarate with the controller. The other driver's times will appear very quickly. If you want to go out and beat a particular fast time accelarate with the controller again to swtich off accelarated time, then return to the circuit in the usual way. If you want to leave the session press ESC, but all non-selected drivers will complete at least one lap in accelarated time before this is implemented. When the qualifiying session is over, you will be shown the results. Select 'continue' and you will be given the option of a pre-race practise session. Do not choose this option but go straight into the race itself. A NON-CHAMPIONSHIP RACE. - --- ------------ ----- You will find yourself on the starting grid at Monza with 25 other cars. If you have achieved a reasonable lap time you will be placed relative to the other driver's performance. If you failed to get a time, got a bad time, or have just jumped in at this stage, then you will begin from the rear of the grid. Wherever you are, you will see the starting gantry: a bank of 3 red lights and a bank of 3 green lights. None should be illuminated. Wait for the red lights to come on. This is the warning that the start will take place within 4-7 seconds. Hold the car on the clutch with 1st gear engaged (see earlier). When the green lights come on, accelerate! Try to keep out of trouble for the first bend until the cars sort themselves out. Race around the circuit for the number of laps shown on the display but keep an eye on the pits indicator (bottom right in the cockpit). If it turns yellow you are being called by the radio to go into the pits to change tyres or repair damage. Drive into the pits as soon as possible, you will lose performance if you dont change your tyres. The pit stop will be timed! If you do not wish to pit inform the crew by pressing 'Return' which cancels the pit signal. Complete the required number of laps. When the race is over you will lose power and then you will be shown the results screen. If you wish to retire early from the race then press ESC. The race will then be completed for the other drivers in accelarated time. Quit Session (ESC) You can choose to end your current session by pressin ESC. SAVE SETUP You can save the setup you have chosen for your car when you are in the pits, by pulling back on the controller to access the set-up options. QUICKSTART GUIDE TO WINNING THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ---------- ----- -- ------- --- ----- ------------ The Other Circuits. --- ----- --------- If you think you know Monza quite well, after following the Quickstart tutorial, then you must study all the other 15 tracks with equal intensity to win the World Championship at the lowest level with all Driving aids F1 to F6 turned off and the opposition at their lowest performance level but you must know the courses like the back of your hand. Making use of the Driving Aids. ------ --- -- --- ------- ----- You may find that you start the season off with all driving aids on but as you progress you may prefer to control your own brakes and gears. If you win a World Championship, you will only win at the lowest level. You cannot use any driving aids when competing at Ace Level. probably the most difficult part of the simulation to master is the correct driving line. To win the championship at ace leve youll have to get used to driving without it. Press F5 to turn off the ideal line and try to drive around a circuit without it. END OF QUICKSTART GUIDE ----------------------- ============================================================================ SOUND ===== The sound of the Formula One engine is very important in the simulation for, as in real racing, it's a good indication of when to change gear. Sound (+/-) Turn the sound level up and down with the +/- keys. BASIC DRIVING CONTROLS. ======================= Gear Change: UP The sequence is reverse-neutral-1st-2nd-3rd-4th-5th-6th Start in neutral. Accelarate with the controller and press the selector once, the readgear indicator will show 1 and the car will begin to move. Accelarate again until the red power band is between 11 and 12 then, while still accelarating, press the selector. You will now have changed gear, the indicator shows the number 2 and the tone of the engine changes. Accelarate again and increase the power, then press the selector again. You have now changed into third gear! Gear Change : Down The sequence is 6th-5th-4th-3rd-2nd-1st-Power Turn-Neutral-Reverse. With the controller not accelerating, press the selector. The number on the gear indicator will change down. Power Turn : you can only change down into this gear. If you have not implemented function key F3 or are racing at a level that does not allow you to use it, you may recover from any spin by changing down into this gear. The red indicator will show a curved arrow. To straighten out a spin, accelarate from rest, steering momentarily in the opposite direction to where you wannt to turn, before steering in the desired direction, keeping the accelerator depressed throughout, but change up to first gear as soon as you are facing in the right direction. Reverse: You must change down into reverse. Once the R appears on the gear indicator accelerate with the controller, as in a real car, to move backwards. COCKPIT CONTROLS ================ Before you start any race, qualifying lap or practise session you must familiarise yourself with the MicroProse Formula One Grand Prix cockpit. You must be able to take in all the information presented to you at a glance, because at the speeds you will be travelling on circuits such as Monza, a lost second is all it takes to make the different between a devastating shunt and a brilliant overtaking manoeuvre. At 200mph the car will travel 90 meters in that second! It is very important to know who is behind you and who is trying to overtake. Some cars may weave from side to side looking for an opening at a crucial corner, be conscious of their prescence. They will try to pass, if you show any weakness or lave a gap where they might dart past. Whilst not advocating a breach of racing etiquette it is not unusual for drivers to 'shut the door' on other cars behind them. Five levels of difficulty (accessed from Main Menu) : The difficulty level you have chosen is shown by five lights in a row on the left of the steering wheel. If the lowest green light is shining then you are racing at Rookie level, if the highest light is on then you are competing at ace level. The levels are related to and control the number of driving aids you can access. The levels are: Ace Pro Semi-pro Amateur Rookie. Distribution of Performance (Accessed from main menu) Just below the difficulty level indicators there is a panel that shows your choice for the distribution of performance among the other drivers. / / = 1991 performance for teams and drivers. -- = All teams and drivers at the same potential performance. /\./ = Random distribution of performance throughout the grid. The Rev Counter : In the centre of the screen just below the top of the steering wheel you will see the Rev counter, a long sweepin dial that shows your engine's rmp in 1000's from 7 to 14. If you 'blip' the accelerator to rev the engine in neutral you will notice that a red band moves across the dial. This is the most important indicator of how fast your engine is runnung when in a particular gear. You must be aware of being in the right gear at the right moment. The basic guideline is to try and keep the revs up between 10,000 and 12,000 rpm. Changing into the wrong gear will lose you power or you may overrev and damage your engine. You should always know the optimum point on the rev counter for gear changes in order to drop the engine back into the meatiest part of it's powerband. Gear Indicator : To the right of the steering wheel is the gear indicator. This tells you which gear you are in. There are 6 forward gears, neutral N, reverse R and a 'spin recovery' gear. Suggested Gear Indicator (Activated by F6) : If F6 driving aid is implemented you will see a blue indicator just below the normal red gear indicator that tells you the suggested gear to be in at the next corner. This is an 'intelligent' aid that will vary depending on the car set-up, wings, brakes, gears and tyres. Driver Status Indicator : On the right of the steering wheel there is another small LED. If it is green then you are currently in your own car cockpit. If you choose to see another driver's cockpit views by pressing the up/down arrow keys, the light will go off. Unless you are in Replay mode use this facility at your peril for the car will not be controlled by the computer. Detail On/Off Indicator (Alt/d) : Just below the gear indicator is the detail on/off indicator. There are 3 levels of detals in MicroProse Formula One Grand Prix and you may step between them by pressing Alt/D. At the highest level 2 green triangles are illuminated, and you will see all the scenery, stands and spectators. Press Alt/D once and you will remove all large buildings. Press Alt/D again; smaller buildings, trees and bushes will dissappear. A further press will return all original track and landscape details. Damage Indicator : Below the dtail adjust indicator is the damage indicator operated by radio telemetry from the pits. This shows damage to front and/or rear wings, and if lit, extreme caution is advised in driving. Returning to the pits will repair any damage. Pits Indicator : Below the damage indicator is the Pits indicator operated by telemetry from the pits. There are 3 modes: GREY : Pits are empty. Call in at any time. YELLOW : You have been called into the pits or have indicated an intention to call in. RED CROSS: Pits are occupied by your other team car. The pit crew is not available to you, so you may have to wait longer if you go in. Driving Aids: The driving aids panel is the bank of 6 boxes directly below the rev counter. Driving aids correspond directly to the difficult level you have chosen. F1 Auto Brakes : The computer applies braking functions for you to suit the circuit, but will not brake to avoid other cars. F2 Auto Gears : The computer changes all gears for you when it thinks it is the appropriate moment. F3 Self Correct: In the event of you spinning off the track, when you come to rest, the computer will point you in the correct direction to continue the race, assuming you are in a fit state of repair. F4 indestructible: No damage will be sustained in this more, no matter how serious the shunt. F5 Ideal Line : This lays down a white striped line to show you the best line to drive on the circuit you have chosen. Ideally, you must keep the line on the centre point of the cockpit to get the benefit of the best driving line. F6 Suggested Gear: Indicates which gear to be in at the following corner. The driving aids F1 to F6 can be turned on at any time from the cockpit if you are in rookie mode. However, if you race at higher levels you will have less help available to you. Level of difficulty/Driving aids available summary: --------------------------------------------------- Ace No driving aids. Pro F5, F6 Semi-pro F3,F4,F5,F6 Amatuer F2,F3,F4,F5,F6 Rookie F1,F2,F3,F4,F5,F6 DIGITAL DISPLAYS ================ During Qualifying/Tinmed practise you will be placed in the pits and a telemetric monitor is placed in front of your cockpit. The monitor lists the other drivers in the race by: POS Current grid position. N racing number. DRIVER Driver name. LAPTIME Current best laptime. SET Sets of qualifying tyres used. TIME Amount of time left for practise/qualifying. CARS OUT Amount of cars already out on the track. If you watch the monitor you will see the other drivers best lap times for the circuit. The fastest laptime is placed above all others. You will be positioned in the middle of the monitor display with your nearest rivals on either side of you, unless you are the fastest driver! You may speed up the time it takes for all drivers to finish qualifying by Accelerating the controller. Or, you may quit timed practise/qualifying by pressing ESC. All non-selected drivers will complete at least one lap in accelerated time before this is implemented. TYRES ===== When you are jacked up in the pits the top row on the digital readout will change to: TYRES: A B C D Q W Move the controller left/right to select your choice of tyres from wets, compounds A (hard) to D (very soft) and Qaulifiers. Qualifying/Practise Display: --------------------------- KM/MPH : Your current speed around the circuit. CAR : Your team car number. POS : Your current position on the grid. LAPTIME : Your current laptime. BEST : Your previous laptime. Brake with the controller to access the car set-up menus. Racing Display. -------------- KM/MPH : Your speed. LAP/OF : Your current lap out of total. CAR : Your Car Number. POS : Your position in the race. Key 'N' will display the name of the current car driver on the digital display. ------------------------------------------------------- THE PITS ======== You begin any practise or timed/qualfiying round session in the pit lane. From here you can choose to drive staight away with the current settings or change any of the car settings. You can also drive into the pits at any time during practise to change your car set-up. For the Rookie driver the car setup will seem very complex at first. Do not worry! Accept the current set-up, learn to drive fast around the circuits then return to this section and adjust the settings. Do not adjust more than one setting at a time before trying it out in a practise session. That is when you will notice the difference in performance. Each of the 16 circuits is unique so it's necessary to set up your Formula One car with the correct combination of Wing, Gear ratios, Brake balance and Tyres. You are advised to study the track layouts and take note of all the track notes and summaries; these will give you an indication of the type of car set-up required but there is no substitute for experience. Try a few laps with various settings, get an idea of how the car is running through corners and along straights. compare your performance with other cars in practise, go into the pits and adjust a setting then try again. If you are having problems with your car set-up and are finding it difficult, for example, to drive into corners please consult the setup problem chart at the end of this section. TYRE CHOICE =========== You can choose from a variety of tyres when you are in racing trim and you can choose qualifying tyres when you are participating in timed practise/qualifying and when you are ready to do a 'hot' lap, otherwise you can use any of the other compounds. Remember, you are limited to 4 sets of Qualifiers. To change tyres, enter the pits during a race/practise when the pits indicator signals that your tyres need changing, or press return to indicate that you are coming in. Or, if in practise mode, press Q to quit a timed lap immediately. When you are jaked up, move the controller left/right to make your tyre selection. 'D' COMPOUND/VERY SOFT. Spongy tyres that ive excellent dry condition grip but which wear out quite rapidly and will not last the whole race. 'C' COMPOUND/SOFT These provide slightly less grip than 'D's but are harder wearing. You will probably need to change these at least once during a normal race. 'B' COMPOUND/MEDIUM These provide less grip than Cs on the track but they are quite hard wearing and will usually last for the whole race without needing to be changed. 'A' COMPOUND/HARD A hard tyre that will definitely last the whole race but with less grip in the corners than Bs. QUALIFYING TYRES. Good for approximately 3 laps, including the startting and slowing down laps. Ultra sticky therefore they lack durability. You are limited to 4 sets per qualifying period. Its sometimes possible to squeeze an extra lap out of these tyres if you are careful. W - WETS These tryes have tread for wet weather driving. If the race is in wet conditions, wets are always fitted. FRONT/REAR WING DOWNFORCE ADJUST. ================================= In general terms the wings on a formula one racer push the car down on the track. This achieves more rip and less roll giving better control in corners but less speed on the straights because of the drag. You can adjust the amount of front and rear wing used by the car. This is on a scale from 0 to 64. The higher the number the more downforce. Adjust the wing front and back by selecting +/- FRONT/REAR BRAKE BALANCE. ========================= Grand Prix cars have a low centre of gravity, centered just behind the driver. If you brake hard at speed the weight shifts onto the front of the car. Therefore brakes must be balanced to cope with the transfer of weight during deceleration (slowing down). You can alter the brake balance of your car by altering the way in which the front and rear brakes are applied. It's always best to have more brake bias at the front than at the rear. Ideally, as soon as the front wheels begin to feel the effect of the brakes, the rear wheels should just be beginning to slow down. The scale goes from 32 at the reat to zero in the middle to 32 at the front. Move the slider to give you the correct degree of balance. GEAR RATIOS =========== You must set the gear ratios of your gearbox to suit each circuit. This is usually done by setting the 6th geaar for the fastest possible speed along the longest straight; then setting the lowest gear for the slowest corner. The rest of the gears are ranged somewhere between the two. Gear ratio selection is very important. Different cogs can be fitted to the gearbox which can have a major effect on the car's acceleration, performance in bends and top speed. Twisty circuits with few long straights and plenty of chicanes demand 'short' gearing for quick acceleration. Other circuits with long straights require 'long' gearing to give the car the top speed it will need to keep up with the opposition. The gearbox has a range from 1 to 64. Move the slider to set the ratio for each gear. The nearer the cogs are to each other, the less work the lower gear has to do to get to the higher gear (short gearing). The further away from each other the cogs are the more work it has to do to get up to the higher gears but the faster the speed at the top gear (long gearing). PROBLEM: CAR DOES NOT WANT TO STEER INTO CORNERS. CAUSE : UNDERSTEER. REMEDY : Increase front wing/Perhaps decrease rear wing. Other : Move brake balance towards rear/install softer tyres. PROBLEM: CAR WANTS TO TURN INTO CORNERS TOO QUICKLY OR SPINS TO EASILY WHEN CORNERING. CAUSE : OVERSTEER REMEDY : Decrease front wing/increase rear wing. Other : Move brake balance to front. Fit harder tyres. PROBLEM: OTHER CARS ARE MUCH FASTER ON THE LONG STRAIGHTS. CAUSE : TOO MUCH DOWNFORCE/GEAR RATIO TOO SHORT/NOT ENOUGH SPEED FROM PREVIOUS CORNER. REMEDY : Reduce wings front and back/Space out higher gear ratios/ use more throttle. OTHER : Fit softer compound tyres for faster cornering/Check driving line. PROBLEM: CAR DOES NOT GRIP IN CORNERS/OTHER CARS FASTER IN CORNERS. CAUSE : NOT ENOUGH DOWNFORCE/TOO HIGH A SPEED. REMEDY : Increase wing front an back/use less throttle. OTHER : Select softer compound tyres. PROBLEM: IN A WET RACE, CAR LOSES ALL CONTROL. CAUSES : LACK OF GRIP FROM TYRES. REMEDY : FIT WET TYRES. OTHER : ADJUST DRIVING STYLE TO SUIT CONDITIONS. PROBLEM: CAR LACKS ACCELERATION OVER SHORT DISTANCES. CAUSE : GEAR RATIOS TOO LONG REMEDY : CLOSE DOWN GAPS BETWEEN GEARS. OTHER : FIT SOFTER TYRES IF WHEELSPIN IS APPARENT. PROBLEM: CAR HAS A TENDENCY TO SPIN OFF WHEN BRAKING INTO CORNERS. CAUSE : UNDERBRAKING/BRAKING TOO LATE. REMEDY : MOVE BRAKE BALANCE TOWARDS THE FRONT/BRAKE EARLIER. OTHER : SOFTER TYRES/INCREASE WINGS. PROBLEM: THE CAR IS SLOW IN CORNERS OR ON STRAIGHTS. CAUSE : GEARING. REMEDY : LENGTHEN THE GEARS. OTHER : REDUCE WING. PROBLEM: GRADUAL LOSS OF PERFORMANCE CAUSE : TYRES WEARING OUT REMEDY : FIT NEW SET OF TYRES. OTHER : NONE. PROBLEM: TYRES WEAR OUT TOO QUICKLY. CAUSE : WRONG COMPOUND TYRES FITTED FOR CAR AS CURRENTLY SET-UP. REMEDY : FIT HARDER COMPOUND/LESSEN WING DOWNFORCE OTHER : NONE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- M I C R O P R O S E F O R M U L A O N E G R A N D P R I X T H E C I R C U I T S NOTE: This is the remaining section of the manual that is still not covered in any doc files. This is very useful as it describes the best way to complete the courses, and provides you with the full maps. GRANDE PREMIO DO BRAZIL AUTODROMO JOSE CARLOS PACE, INTERLAGOS, BRAZIL LENGTH OF CIRCUIT - 2.699 Miles/4.325 Km NUMBER OF LAPS - 71 TOTAL DISTANCE - 190.848 Miles/307.075 Km LAP RECORD (QUALIFYING) - 1M 16.392 Seconds LAP RECORD (RACE) - 1M 19.089 Seconds A circuit that demands a great deal from the transmission with numerous gear changes. The long left hander can also make it very exausting for the drivers who have to fight the strain on their kneck muscles. Its important to be quick on the two long 200mph straights, cars can be set up with very little downforce. However, this makes th inner sections of the track more difficult to drive with the wheels loosing some grip and the cars feeling jumpy and twitchy. From the pits straight, flat out in 6th at 200mph, you sweep left and then right for Curva1 and Curva De Sol then wind up for the long curva 2 left hander and accelerate past reta oposta in 6th gear at 190mph. To slight left handers after curva 3 and storm through the forth gear feradura. From here you need to get into a good rhythm to take you through a series of slow winding bend: Laranji (2nd gear, 55mph) then Prinhearinho, Bico Do Pato (2nd gear 55mph) and finally, Merghulho. Curva 4 taken in 2nd or 3rd gear is next, a bumpy slow left hander. This corner is important in that taken properly it can put you in a good position to approach the long left hander that leaves to the pit straight Arquibancadas. Winding up through Subida its quite possible to line yourself up to "get a tow", slipstream a car in front of you and overtake. GRAN PREMIO DI SAN MARINO AUTODROMO ENZO AND DINO FERRARI, IMOLA ITALY LENGTH OF CIRCUIT - 3.132 Miles/5.040 Km NUMBER OF LAPS - 61 TOTAL DISTANCE - 191.075 Miles/307.440 Km LAP RECORD (QUALIFYING) - 1M 21.877 Seconds LAP RECORD (RACE) - 1M 26.531 Seconds A bumpy, brusing anti-clockwise circuit where the cars run little wing and are often struggling for grip or clipping the kerb. From the grid, you roar towards Tamburello, a long, fast 6th geat left hander that pushes you into speeds in excess of 170mph. Accelerating into Rettifiolo, the cars can reach 200mph before they brake for Tosa, an off- camber tight left hander thats taken at 2nd in 60mph. Here you have a good chance of getting on the brakes late and overtaking but its not easy. Double back up the hill to a fast left at Piratella, flat out in 4th, then change into 5th just as you leave the bend. Next, down the hill into the long left hander towards the Acque Minerale chicane. The appoach is off-chamber and blind; you have no view of the "S" until you are in it an 2nd at 50mph. Here, there is a tendancy to bounce from one side of the track to the other and many drivers spin off this corner. Then flat-out through the small chicane at Variante Alfa and down towards two bumpy left handers, Rivazza, that shake the car so much you can hardly see where you are going. Back in 5th, you approach Bassa, a right hand chicane that leaves you a bit blind with no idea where the apex is, then weave through Traguardo and back into the finishing straight. GRAN PRIX DE MONACO CIRCUIT DE MONACO, MONACO LENGTH OF CIRCUIT - 2.068 Miles/3.328 Km NUMBER OF LAPS - 78 TOTAL DISTANCE - 161.332 Miles/259.584 Km LAP RECORD (QUALIFYING) - 1M 20.344 Seconds LAP RECORD (RACE) - 1M 24.368 Seconds The qualifying laps for this circuit are very important because it is practically impossible to pass anybody here unless they make a driving error or crash. The cars are set up for maximum downforce and suspension is a little softer to deal with the many bumps on the course. After the mayhem of the first bend at Sainte Devote, when the field tries to squeeze through, you pass Roses Bar flat out in 6th at 170mph, great uphill straight but full of dips, bumps, and manhole covers that make the car judder and thump. Then to Casino, hard through the left-hander and quickly right downhill, off camber, almost brushing the barrier as the road gets narrower, slipery and very bumpy. Mirabeau next; a tight simple, second gear bend. Accelerate sharply then brake practically to a standstill for Loews. This is a first gear, 40mph, hairpin that needs maximum lock (many drivers increase the lock of the car for this race). Often, there is a procession of cars here and if your not in the first 6 then you have to wait your turn. Accelerate gently through Portier then flat out into the Tunnel, 3rd, 4th and 5th. The improved lighting in the tunnel means that its not so much of a shock coming out of the daylight but you have to be careful; the dirt, grease and oil does not get washed away by the rain and this is not the place to skid. Roar out in 6th at about 175mph, stay well out to the right and line up for the Nouvelle Chicane. Take this fast in 4th, left-right zigzag but this narrow section needs to be driven with utmost precision. one touch of the kerb and your out of the race. Out of the chicane, flat out in 5th, the road widens and you head for Tarbac and the Swimming Pool complex. in 3rd, 2 esses, acceleerate briefly, brake hard and almost touch the barriers with the right hand side of the car. La Rescasse next, than in 2nd for Antony Noghes, accelerate out of this bend, roar through the gears and then in 6th heading for the finishing straight. CANADIAN GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT GILLES VILLENEUVE MONTREAL, CANADA LENGTH OF CIRCUIT - 2.753 Miles/4.430 Km NUMBER OF LAPS - 69 TOTAL DISTANCE - 189.975 Miles/305.670 Km LAP RECORD (QUALIFYING) - 1M 19.837 Seconds LAP RECORD (RACE) - 1M 22.077 Seconds A fast circuit comprising of a succession of hard braking and accelerating. Drivers take off downforce which make the slower sections much more difficult and emphasis the uneven surface. From the start, the cars proceed into the slow left/right 1st gear Island Hairpin, taken at 45mph. The drivers get a lot of wheelspin as they leave this corner and build up to the long extended "s" bend which they can approach in 5th at 160mph. Then its flat out in 6th, 180mph to 185mph along the back straight before slamming on the brakes for the 1st gear, 40mph Pits Hairpin. Its very important to get a good, fast exit out of this bend, then right, left, through what is thought to be the most dangerous part of the circuit with high concrete walls on either side of the track. Past Old Pits and into 6th gear, than accelerate through the straight at 175-185-195mph. This is the fastest section of the track and leads to one of the least favorite corners mong many drivers, down to 5th, 160mph, a quick right-left. Its very easy clip the kerb and spin off here either on entry or on the apex, but if you come out of it well, it sets you up for a charge down the finishing straight. GRAN PREMIO DE MEXICO AUTODROMO HERMANOS RODRIGUEZ, MEXICO CITY, MEXICO LENGTH OF CIRCUIT - 2.747 Miles/4.421 Km NUMBER OF LAPS - 69 TOTAL DISTANCE - 189.584 Miles/305.049 Km LAP RECORD (QUALIFYING) - 1M 16.696 Seconds LAP RECORD (RACE) - 1M 16.788 Seconds A hard, bumpy circuit, which needs lots of gear changes but generally very fast. The cars require little downforce and becoaus of the high altitude almost 20% of power is lost but this compensated by a reduction in drag. Concentration is vital on this course. Drift off-line and you find dusty parts of the track with little grip. Mexico can also have vicious bumps that can cause a lot of damage to the car and knock the breath from your body. After a long straight, the fastest on the course in 6th at 190mph, and one of the best places to overtake, you brake hard onto the 1st corner, down to 55mph in 2nd or 3rd. Right, left, right into the shorter straight flat out towards a long series of bends, the Esses. Its easier if you can get into a rhythm because they are very similar. When you hit the back streight in 6th and head for Peralta, a notorious corner taken in 5th at 160mph and a challenge to any driver, exit on a kerb than accelerate to 170mph past the grandstand. GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE CIRCUIT DE NEVERS MAGNY-COURS, FRANCE LENGTH OF CIRCUIT - 2.654 Miles/4.271 Km NUMBER OF LAPS - 72 TOTAL DISTANCE - 191.120 Miles/307.510 Km LAP RECORD (QUALIFYING) - 1M 14.559 Seconds LAP RECORD (RACE) - 1M 19.168 Seconds This new course in the World championships. Smooth and challenging, doubling back on itself, with fast fourth-fifth gear corners and first gear hairpins as well a long top-speed straight, Magny-Cours has been built to appel to the Formula One spectators and TV crews alike. The circuit has several constant radius corners but the cars are set up to carry less downforce. The 5 fast straights mean that acceleration and top speed are more important than the fraction of a second to be gained at corners when carrying more downforce. After the pits straight, you roar into a fast left hander which changes into a slow left hander at Big Bend. Taken in 4th or 5th, this propels you into a slow left hander it Big bend then turns into a long sweeping right hander: Estoril Bend. Taken in 4th of 5th, this propels you into the long back straight, past the Golf Course Bend, in top at 190mph. after the fastest point, brake hard for the 1st gear hairpin at Adelaide Bend and turn into the infield part of th course. Swing into the 2nd or 3rd gear Esse then a short straight before Nurburring, a slight right, then a sweeping right, then a sweeping left which turns into a double-apex 180 degree bend that throws you into another short straight almost parallel with the previous one. Next, a 5th gear left handler, Imola, which leads into the fast 4th gear bend at Chateau d'Eau then another short straight, under the bridge and into the chicane before you take a good line sharp right into the Lycee Bend, then flat out across the finishing line. BRITISH GRAND PRIX SILVERSTONE, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, BRITAIN LENGTH OF CIRCUIT - 3.202 Miles/5.153 Km NUMBER OF LAPS - 60 TOTAL DISTANCE - 192 Miles/309.180 Km LAP RECORD (QUALIFYING) - 1M 20.939 Seconds LAP RECORD (RACE) - 1M 26.379 Seconds The circuit has been altered for the 1991 Championship because it was considered far too dangerous. A bend such as Club corner taken in 6th at 185mph with no run off track particually hazardous. Copse is a forth gear corner that pushes you into a fast straight leading to Maggots, where you swing into the "S" shaped Beckets in 2nd or 3rd. This slows the cars down and provides a better specticle for the cars down and provides a better spectacle for the crowd. Then the cars roar away from Chapel along the Hangar Straight, under the bridge, towards the double apex right-hander Stowe; taken in 3rd of 4th at 100mph. After the Vale complex you have to take Club, a 3rd gearleft-hander that throws you into the Abbey straight, a favorite overtaking stretch. In 6th, at 185mph sweep into the Farm Straight and a fast right under Bridge towards Priory and Brooklands. Two second or third gear left-handers followed by two right-handers ending at Luffield, then its flat out along the fast Woodcote and through the finishing straight. GROSSER PREIS VON DEUTCHLAND HOCKENHEIMRING, HEIDELBERG, GERMANY LENGTH OF CIRCUIT - 4.227 Miles/6.802 Km NUMBER OF LAPS - 45 TOTAL DISTANCE - 190.236 Miles/306.900 Km LAP RECORD (QUALIFYING) - 1M 37.087 Seconds LAP RECORD (RACE) - 1M 43.569 Seconds There are 3 chicanes on the circuit, one fast and two that have to be taken slowly. the rest of the course is a series of streights. This means that to have good top speed almost all downforce is taken off, and the cars are a horror to drive with no grip and twitchy on any bend. From the start you take a 4th gear right hander at 140mph, then put your foot down till you hit 6th at 200mph for the fastest part of the course. Brake hard for Chicane 1 which hooks sharp right and can be taken in 2nd at 50mph but if you drive a bad line you may be forced to drop to bottom gear. Up through the gears again, flat out, 200mph for the sweeping right-hander then brake again for another chicane which you take in 2nd at 50mph, come out of that and roarinto Ostkurve, one of the fastest bends of any championship course, take it in 6th, 200mph. Slow down for Chicane 2, drop to 4th or 3rd, then flat out for the rest of the straight until Agipkurve. thisis the most difficult part of the circuit and tends to wear out tyres prematurely. Drivers have not built up any rhythm for the bends and all concentration is loston the long straights. Approaching Sachskurve, slip to 4th, line the car into the right-hander, foot down, sweep round, then second gear to take the hairpin, speed up, line up the car for the tight right-hander, brake lightly and roar out of Opelkurve in 3rd towards the finishing straight. Hockenheimring is a good overtaking circuit but the slow chicanes require brutal braking and brakes tend to cool off on the long straights making them less efficient. Most drivers find it difficult to establish a satisfactory rhythm on this course. HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX HUNGARORING, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY LENGTH OF CIRCUIT - 2.466 Miles/3.968 Km NUMBER OF LAPS - 77 TOTAL DISTANCE - 189.851 Miles/305.536 Km LAP RECORD (QUALIFYING) - 1M 16.147 Seconds LAP RECORD (RACE) - 1M 21.547 Seconds A tough but reletivly slow circuit with a large number of corners and a few straights. Its difficult to overtake on this course and you have to be quite patient, waiting for the right moment. Cars are usually set upfor more downforce to gain the advantage of good grip on the numerous bends. Roaring away from the start, downhill, flat out in 6th at 185mph, the pit straight is the main overtaking point on the course. Then through the first of several constant radius corners at 130mph in 4th, a short back straight, then a double-apex left-hander leading to a long sweeping right. Accelerate to 165mph in 5ht, sweep left then go into another double apex bend. Slow down for a second gear chicane, then drive hard into a whole series of fast corners before the constant radius Pit Lane bend throws you into the long finishing straight. The twisting up and down nature of the track means that the average speeds are quite low, about 105-110mph and tyres wear out quickly as the drivers lose patience and try to exit corners faster than the tyres will allow. Most teams find that drivers come in for a tyre change much earlier than planned, if only to get away from the queues that develop on this circuit. GRAND PRIX DE BELGIQUE CIRCUIT DE SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, FRANCORCHAMPS, BELGIUM LENGTH OF CIRCUIT - 4.313 Miles/6.940 Km NUMBER OF LAPS - 44 TOTAL DISTANCE - 189.747 Miles/305.560 Km LAP RECORD (QUALIFYING) - 1M 47.811 Seconds LAP RECORD (RACE) - 1M 55.087 Seconds Fast, challengoing and exilerating, Spa is a favourite among Grand Prix drivers. It successfully combines fast 6th and 5th gear corners with good 1st gear hairpins and 2nd gear chicanes. Generally cars are set up with little downforce. frmo the start line, there is a short space of time before the cars reach the 1st gear, 45rpm La Source hairpin, the scene of many opening-lap shunts, as 26 cars brake from 160mph to 45mph while trying desperatly to overtake each other. Then, its a race up through the gears, downhill in 6th at 180mph, you drop into the Eau Rouge dip, a slight left, then sweep right uphill past Reidillon. This is one driving line you cannot afford to get wrong, one error and your off the circuit! Speed up through Kemmel and into a long straight, flat out at 195mph, weave through Les Combes and then take Melmedy in 2nd. This is a tricky 180 degree corner, downhill and off-chamber. Pouhon is next; an extremely difficult left-hander that starts off in 6th, then drops to 5th at 150mph. through Les Fagnes and Stavelot then brake hard for the Bus Stop Chicane. Bus Stop is the drivers least favourite corner, to be quick you have to run over the shallow kerbs, which is always a risk. the weather is always a big factor at Spa-Francorchamps and it is invariably wet which results in small, hazardous steams crossing the circuit, making driversadjust their driving line. GRAN PREMO D'ITALIA AUTODROMO NATIONALE DI MONZA, MILAN, ITLAY LENGTH OF CIRCUIT - 3.604 Miles/5.800 Km NUMBER OF LAPS - 53 TOTAL DISTANCE - 191.009 Miles/307.400 Km LAP RECORD (QUALIFYING) - 1M 21.114 Seconds LAP RECORD (RACE) - 1M 26.061 Seconds Monza is always full of screaming, hysterical crowds being marshmellowed by even more hysterical officials. The drivers absorb the atmosphere and are spurred on to perform to their utmost, especially if they are driving an italian car. The cars run little wing to take advantage of the very fast start/finish straight, Rettifilo, which is crossed at speeds inexcess of 200mph. The track has been modified to make it safer including the introduction of the 2nd gearVariante Goodyear, a chicane that leads into the famous 5th gear Curva Grande. Flat out towards Lesmos in 5th there is another 2nd gear chicane: Curva della Roggia before the double right-hander Curva do Lesmos corner. you take the first part in 4th gear then power up to take the 2nd part flat out. These corners have to be taken just right for any slight error will slow you down considerably and puy you in a bad position for the 180mph back straight, Curva del Serragilo. then its a tricky 3rd gear chicane Variante Ascari, come out of this in 5th and change down Rettifilo Centro at 190mph in top and brake hard for the famous Curva Parabolica, a fast, 180 degree right-hander thats taken in 4ht at 140mph. Accelerate to 160mph out of the bend, then storm through the finishing line with your foot down ni 6th. GRANDE PREMO DE PORTUGAL AUTODROMO DO ESTORIL, PORTUGAL LENGTH OF CIRCUIT - 2.703 Miles/4.350 Km NUMBER OF LAPS - 71 TOTAL DISTANCE - 191.951 Miles/308.850 Km LAP RECORD (QUALIFYING) - 1M 18.751 Seconds LAP RECORD (RACE) - 1M 22.837 Seconds t Estoril is a tough, tiring circuit with several long, constant radius and some very bumpy straights. If the car is starting from near the front of the grid then its wise to run a lot of downforce to cope with the long bends, but it you are starting lowdown in the order then you must use less downforce, otherwise you'll find it very difficult to overtake. The start/finish line is in the middle of the circuits longest straight. cars accelerate to 190mph in 6th before Turn 1, trying to overtake eachother, before braking into 4th gear corner. Turn 2 is another sweeping right- hander, then its up to 5th for the short straight, brake hard for turn 3, the Martini Bridge Bend, a tight double-apex right-hander. Its important to drive a good line through the infield at estoril, avoiding the kerbs and the sandy, greasy edges. Turn 4 is almost a mirror image of the previous corner. Take the left-hander in 2nd at 45mph, then racew up through the gears, swing through the slight right-hander, Turn 5, then flat out in 6ht at 180mph. This is probably the best place to overtake on the whole circuit. Through Turn 6, a corner that begins tight then opens out, foot down for a short straight and into the long series of fast bends, Turns 7-8-9-10. Its important to maintain a good rhythm through these bends, keep concentration, change up, change down, brake hard. The final corner before the pit straight, Turn 11, is a real challenge for any Formula One driver. its a long, constant redius sweeping bend that you enter in 4th and leave in 5th, accelerating all the way, ready to get in position ot overtake. Estoril is a circuit thats not only hard on gears and tyres but also tough on tyres; the long sweeping bends often mean that many drivers return to the pits earlier than planned as the heat and rough surface take their toll. GRANDE PREMO DE ESPANIA CIRCUIT DE CATALUNYA, BARCELONA, SPAIN LENGTH OF CIRCUIT - 2.950 Miles/4.747 Km NUMBER OF LAPS - 65 TOTAL DISTANCE - 191.768 Miles/308.555 Km LAP RECORD (QUALIFYING) - 1M 18.751 Seconds LAP RECORD (RACE) - 1M 22.837 Seconds A new circuit that has a wide range of corners from slow, 2nd gear to fast 4th/5th gear and includes a very long 200mph overtaking straight. In shape it is very similar to Estroril but the surface is much smoother. drivers will have to compromise between downforce needed for the many bends and the speed required for the pit straight. Most will opt for little downforce and try to nurse their cars through the infield section. From the start, accelerate through the gears, flat out in 6ht heading for Elf, a slow left hander. if you are not in lead, this gives you a good opportunity to overtake under braking. then, its a slight left before a long sweeping 4th gear right-hander that you leave in 5th and speed up for the short straight to Repsol; a corner which turns back on itself but whose angle progressively widens. Next, a short burst of speed into seat, brake, drop to 2nd at 45rpm, accelerate, then slight left, slight right before taking Wurth in 4th and roaring off to Campsa, a fast, 3rd/4th gear right-hander. After that its right and left through Nissan and flat out, up to la Caxia. This is another corner that starts tight and opens out. Steer in, get on line early and as the corner widens, move to the outside of the track. there is no time to put your foot down before you reach the Banc Sabadell, along constant radius bend. Next comes the approach to the straight. Sweepright, foot down , then right again take Renault in 3rd, change to 4th and charge out in 5th before hitting 6th, flat out, past the finishing line. JAPANISE GRAND PRIX SUZUKA, SHIROKO, JAPAN LENGTH OF CIRCUIT - 3.641 Miles/5.859 Km NUMBER OF LAPS - 53 TOTAL DISTANCE - 192.952 Miles/310.527 Km LAP RECORD (QUALIFYING) - 1M 36.996 Seconds LAP RECORD (RACE) - 1M 43.506 Seconds An interesting, undulating course and the only figure of eight in the Grand Prix. Ti\ough, 6th gear corners combine with 1st gear hairpins to make tyre stops essential. Little downforce is set because of the 3 long straights and the cars generally feel sluggins in the corners. The pits straight is a 6ht gear, 190mph charge where it is perfectly possible to overtake, then its down to 5th for the First curve. You drift the car to the left side of the track, down to 4th and race out of the corner. Next you came to a series of 4th gear bends (The S curve). Driving as tight a line as possible through these, you leave Dunlop Curve with your foot down in 5th, going uphill and blind for the oncoming left-hander. The car feels light as you roar over the bumpy crest and come down hard for the 2 right handers Degner Curve and Crossover. Yuo now pass under the circuit and approach at a slow 40mph for the 1st gear Hairpin Curve. This corner can play havoc with your rear tyres if you try to exit too quickly and overspin the back wheels. Now line up the car for the long double apex left hander. Enter in 4th but slow down for the 2nd part of Spoon Curve for its quite easy to spin off here. Next you get one of the fastest straights, 6th gear, 180mph, sweeping left with both hands on the wheel, ease your car carefully through the slow Casio Chicane then storm through flat out past the finishing straight. AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX ADELAIDE GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT, ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA LENGTH OF CIRCUIT - 2.349 Miles/3.780 Km NUMBER OF LAPS - 81 TOTAL DISTANCE - 190.292 Miles/306.180 Km LAP RECORD (QUALIFYING) - 1M 15.671 Seconds LAP RECORD (RACE) - 1M 18.203 Seconds A hard, unforgetting street circuit that requires numerous gear changes and is very tough on brakes and tyres. The last Grand Prix venue of the champoinship season and always very exciting as teams try to finish the year off with a win. Adelaide has been responsible for deciding the outcome of several championship, the most famous being Nigel Mansells blow out in 1986. Again, there is a need to compromise; youll need a lot of 90 degree bends but you will also need speed of the Jones and Brabhim straights. After the start, you come to a fast 4th gear chicane at Wakefield Road, take this at about 140mph then flat out towards the Finders Street complex. The road is very bumpy here and the occasional manhole cover will knock the breath out of you. Brake hard for a difficult 2nd gear 90 degree right hander then left 90 degrees and right 90 degrees. Through East Terrace and a fast off-camber left-hander, drop down to 2nd gear and steer a good line to hit Jones's straight in 5th. Foot down, then a slight right and into Brabham straight, under the 2 bridges flat out, 200mph in 6th. Next you step on the brakes to take the tricky 1st gear 40mph hairpin and speed up into 3rd for a deceptive tightening corner stay wide as long as possible hit the apex late, brake, change down, take a line on the outside and follow the curve of the bend to give you the smoothest possible exit angle. Past Pits and right through Racecourse, brake hard, change down into 2nd for a good fast exit into the finishing straight. end. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MICROPROSE FORMULA ONE GRAND PRIX QUICK REFERENCE CARD Function Joystick Keyboard -------------------------------------------------------- CAR CONTROL Accelerate Forward Key A Brake Back Key Z Steer Left Left Key < Steer Right Right Key > CHANGE GEAR Change Up Forward & Fire Key A & Spacebar Change Down Fire Only Just Spacebar IN THE PITS Start Qualifying Fire Spacebar & Race Session Accelerated Time Forward & Release Key A On/Off Pits Menu Access Back Key Z Tyre Choice Left & Right Keys < > Pause Spacebar Key P KEY COMMANDS Sound +/- Keys (non-numeric keypad) Exit to main menu with save option Esc Return to pits during qualifying/practice Key Q Signal to pits/cancel signal from pits Return Keyboard/Joystick Toggle(Joystick Default) Key K Detail Adjust (3 levels) Alt/D List name of driver Key N Replay Mode Key R DRIVING AIDS Auto Gears Key F1 Auto Brakes Key F2 Self-correcting spin Key F3 Indestructable Mode Key F4 Ideal line Key F5 Suggest gear Key F6 VIEWS Trackside camera view Left cursor Key Return to cockpit view Right cursor Key Jump to leading cars cockpits (you may crash) Up cursor Key Jump to trailing cars cockpits (you may crash) Down cursor Key Return to your cockpit 7 on Numeric Pad Chase View Help Key Reverse Chase View Del Key Other action replay mode 0 on Numeric Pad hope yu all enjoy the ride!!!!!