Posted by crazykongjpw on Jun 14, 2010 22:29 (Jun 14, 2010 22:29)
Instead of writing a review of the game, I thought it best you all hop on board and enjoy this brief account of an epic season. A journey of high-speed thrills, spills, glory, engine blow-up's, punctures, fierce title battles and even a driver injury (courtesy of Nigel Mansell). What more do you want?
The idea to catalog these events will hopefully work better than re-telling of a Wikipedia review for this decent little Spectrum/Amstrad racer. By chosing one driver only, I saw it better to spend all sponsorship money on getting my Ferrari and it's peddler up to speed as soon as possible. And Alain Prost was my man.
Beginning in 1985 (the season of this games original release, by CRL Group PLC), the plan is to help steer your 'fantasy' driver/s & team to both Formula One Championships. I began by struggling in the opening rounds, only achieving a third place podium spot in race two South Africa, behind a Mansell led McLaren One-Two. By rounds 6, 7 & 8 the qualifying positions were more frequently at the top end of the grid, giving me a few points here and there, but well needed as Mansell and Patrick Tambay (Williams) were taking the spoils with regular podiums.
The idea to concentrate on feeding all finances gained into one driver/car combination was that one wouldn't have to worry about the car being half-cocked and as inefficient as they usually are trying to keep two going, but this way could also be a burden too, as we know that anything can happen in Formula One... and usually does (we love ya Murray). Well, it does to me. Having two cars is a safer bet for finishes, but that doesn't always mean points.
Finally a welcome victory came at the Grand Prix of Dallas for my sole Ferrari driver, followed by a win at the British GP for Niki Lauda's Brabham. But Prost fought back in style with consecutive wins in Germany & Austria.
Fortunately by the Austrian event, the two leading protagonists Tambay and Mansell where giving away serious points to the rest of the grid, even worse 'Our Nige' suffered injury at the race and was ruled out for the rest of the season! The points gain for victory was a healthy 9pts, and with only four races remaining in the World Championship, Prost was only eleven behind now. Cheers Nige!
The Dutch Grand Prix again saw Tambay's engine expire early in the race. The only threat at this event was the late-charger Jaques Laffite, driving for Renault but, were soon to hand me the lead of the race after a spin. He soon recovered the lead after my Ferrari suffered a 'Turbo Failure'.
So it was off to the daunting Monza circuit 3 races to go and now covering the Top 5 in the drivers table! This inaugural (game-wise) Italian Grand Prix was to be 51 Laps of pure hell, with the lead changing over & over... Prost, Laffite and Lauda fighting for the victory which could ultimately lead to title glory. Lauda won.
With now two to go, the standings read Lauda 58, Tambay 55, Prost (Mansell too) 46pts.
In the European GP, Laffite was setting Lap Record after Lap Record but later crashed out handing the lead to yours truly with Tambay close behind. The event was to throw in a surprise win for 'CPU Fantasy' Williams driver Walker.
One race was all that stood between the trophy and me, but I needed the victory and the other two guys not to score any points (a right flippin' Hamilton job)! Portugal, here we come for a Battle Royal...
A rain-hit Grand Prix saw Laffite take an early lead and Prost having to pit for 'gear-box problems', dropping to fifth for my sins. Midway through Lauda led in his trusty Brabham with my driver in third until Lauda's Brabham wasn't so trusty anymore. Laffite was chasing close behind after HIS problems, recovering from a pit-stop. That wouldn't be good enough though... But...
"And WOW! There he goes! Bang, Bang!" (Okay we already did the Murray thing!) Laffite was out!
All I had to do was win the race. Nothing is quite that simple though is it? I had to make another stop late in the race for 'Wets' giving the lead to Lotus driver Teo Fabi. The Lotus won. Prost came second and Tambay sneaked home in a title-winning third...
Jun 15, 2010 22:26:35 (
Jun 15, 2010 22:26
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