World Circuit (DOS)

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Description

Formula 1 Grand Prix (known as World Circuit in the US) is the first installment of Geoff Crammond's Grand Prix series. The game includes all 16 international GP circuits of 1991. Players may drive them in quick race mode, single race or a full championship. The 18 teams and 35 drivers and their performance are based on the 1991 season, but the game doesn't include real names. It is possible to edit and save team and driver names by hand.

The extensive tuning feature influences the performance of the car. In-race setup allows players to adjust gear ratios, brake balance, wing downforce and tires during each visit to the pit box. Six optional driving aids help F1 rookies finish their race: players can toggle best line and suggested gear displays to learn track tactics, or have auto brakes, auto gears, self-righting spins and indestructibility to improve their driving. A replay system allows players to watch race scenes from three different views, including track-side camera footage.

The game features 3D graphics and various details and effects such as working rear mirrors, collisions with flying debris, crude damage models (wings are visibly bent after crashes), and wet weather that influences traction, including a fog effect that obscures vision when driving in another car's splash water.

While the Amiga version allows multiplayer races in hotseat mode, the PC version originally had solo races only. In 1993, the v1.05 update added modem support and a few other improvements.

Screenshots

Promo Images

Alternate Titles

• "World Circuit: The Grand Prix Race Simulation" -- Tag-lined title
• "Microprose Formula One Grand Prix" -- European title
• "Grand Prix 1" -- Informal title
• "F1GP" -- Common abbreviation

Part of the Following Groups

• Formula 1 racing games
• Games with manual lookup copy protection
• MicroProse Grand Prix series
• Powerplus releases
• Setting: Australian / Oceanian
• Setting: City - Monaco
• Setting: Country - France

User Reviews

Geoff Crammond's first Grand Prix game is a masterpiece.	Steve Hall (352)
Had me racing for years...	Stephen M (24)

Critic Reviews

Retro Archives	Jan 25, 2021	19 out of 20	95
Génération 4	Jan, 1993	91 out of 100	91
Tilt	Jan, 1993	18 out of 20	90
Top Secret	Jul, 1994	9 out of 10	90
Joystick (French)	Jan, 1993	89 out of 100	89
Play Time	1993	89 out of 100	89
PC Player (Germany)	Jan, 1993	84 out of 100	84
PC Format (UK)	Dec, 1994	83 out of 100	83
Digitiser	Jan 03, 1993	3 out of 5	60
Imperium Gier	Jun 15, 2000		40

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Trivia

Intro

The introduction movie is based on that of Japan's Fuji Television F1 title sequence. The music is based on the guitar solo in Fleetwood Mac's The Chain. This was used by the BBC for the British Formula One TV coverage introduction in the years they have held the rights, 1978-1996 and again from 2009.

Names

The game features the real car colors and performances of the 1991 Formula 1 season, but not the real names, although the technical support sheet included these (for the UK Amiga release at least). The British drivers are generally replaced with members of the Microprose staff, including Rob Davies and Mark Scott replacing Nigel Mansell and Martin Brundle respectively. Some of the names are very corny, such as Helmut Becker (a sort of half-pun that didn't work), and Mario Innocenti and Luigi Rivellini as the first two Italians.

Awards

• Amiga Joker
  • Issue 02/1993 – #2 Best Sports Game of 1992 (Readers' Vote)
• Computer Gaming World
  • October 1993 (Issue #111) – Best Simulation Game of the Year (together with Star Wars: X-Wing)
  • November 1996 (15th anniversary issue) - #66 in the “150 Best Games of All Time” list

Information also contributed by A J and PCGamer77

Related Web Sites

• Amiga F1 (Comprehensive Amiga site made by Oliver Roberts, a noted expert on the game and one-time Amiga Format writer. Features his editor package as well as lots more software, a FAQ page, troubleshooting guide and Hall of Fame statistics of the best drivers.)
• F1GP.com.br (A Formula One Grand Prix Fan page with tools, editors and addons for F1GP. New downloads (like the latest carsets) are still being added.)
• Grand Prix (Home of F1Ed, a powerful F1GP editor.)
• GrandPrix1.com (Excellent F1GP site, features a huge database of files and resources as well as a discussion board. You can download the v1.05 patch here.)
• SimRacingWorld (SimRacingWorld features a F1GP section with news, infos, screenshots and downloads of the game.)