Formule De Track Descriptions and Ratings

Article by Tim Trant.

Notes

-two letter grades (A+ through F) have been assigned according to how "interesting" each track is. The first is a "stand-alone" rating, while the second also takes into account peculiar/unique features: Monaco, for instance, is the slowest and most twisty track but isn't a good track to race on repeatedly.

-the "Total Corners" (TC) is just the sum of all the corner ratings, and gives a good idea of how many game turns are required for each lap. The "Bump Percentage" is for those using the modified collision rule (check only in corners, and a d20 roll <= the corner rating results in a collision), and is the total of the collision chance percentages times the number of turns spent in the each corner. This is a relative measure only, and not meant to indicate the precise collision chance per lap or anything. For example, Monaco has a TC rating of 1+1+1+1+3+1+1+2+2+1 = 13, while its BP is 3 x 15% (3 moves spent in the "3" corner) + 2 x 2 x 10% (two "2" corners, and two moves in each) + 7 x 5% (7 single-move "1"s) = 120%

-"doubled straights" means counting each space on a straight as costing 2 movement points instead of the normal 1. Players may chose to either discard a last single movement point use it to move a final space. If you try this, bits of Post-it(tm) notes work well for changing the trackside numbers, and also emphasize that those track sections are different.

Ludodelire Mounted Tracks

These are all in full colour, with beautiful scenery details painted in (as well as a silly cartoon flying machine on most tracks). The boards for the mounted tracks are 25.5" x 38" (although the two sections could also be 19" x 51"). Dimensions are the widest for the track itself.

  1. Monaco - Monte Carlo (Total Corners: 13, Bump Percentage: 120%)

  2. France - Magny Cours (TC: 11, BP: 95%)

  3. Italy - Monza (TC: 8, BP: 60%)

  4. Germany - Hockenheim (TC: 10, BP: 90%)

  5. Belgium - Spa (TC: 12, BP: 100%)

  6. Portugal - Estoril (TC: 9, BP: 55%)

  7. Great Britain - Silverstone (TC: 10, BP: 120%)

  8. Spain

The ASPIFD Tracks

These are part of the "Championship Kit", which includes ten additional black & white tracks plus a variety of record sheets and a page of championship & optional rules. There was a flyer from ASPIFD in my copy of Formule De, and I got the Kit in the spring of 1994 at a cost of 400 francs (postage included). The tracks included are subject to change as full colour mounted ones are released by Ludodelire: Silverstone was listed on the flyer they sent me, but as the Ludodelire version had just appeared the Phoenix track was substituted.

    Association Des Pilotes de Formule D 
    175, rue du temple
    75003 PARIS
    Tel: 48 87 19 47 / 47 91 44 61
The tracks are big black & white photocopies, on either 35" x 40" or 51" x 23.5" paper sheets, folded down into 8.5" X 12" (to fit in a mailing envelope). There is no scenery, but all the information needed for the game (including weather ranges) is included. Most have a 12 car starting grid and six pit areas. Many of the sheets have large blank areas. These ratings have been made after a minimum of play (usually just one eight-car race) on each circuit.

  1. South Africa - Kyalami (TC: 10, BP: 70%)

  2. Brasil - Interlagos (TC: 9, BP: 65%)

  3. Hungary - Hungaroring (TC: 12, BP: 70%)

  4. Spain - Barcelona (TC: 12, BP: 80%)

  5. San Marino - Imola (TC: 9, BP: 75%)

  6. Japan - Suzuka (TC: 9, BP: 85%)

  7. Canada - Gilles Villeneuve (Montreal) (TC: 11, BP: 95%)

  8. Australia - Adelaide (TC: 9, BP: 55%)

  9. Europe - Donnington (TC: 8, BP: 50%)

  10. U.S. - Phoenix (TC: 12, BP: 110%)

Casus Belli #65

This issue of the French game magazine contains a Formule De track as a fold-out (four A4 panels) insert. The track is an oval with various optional inside connecting sections, meaning there are 5 possible routes, but they are all VERY short, with three or four corners and TC rating of 4 or 5. If you really want an Indianapolis-shaped but short oval it's here, but you could probably design and draw a course of your own which would be more interesting.

  1. oval track

  2. alternate tracks
Article by Tim Trant, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
tim@eecg.utoronto.ca
September 14, 1994

The Game Cabinet - editor@gamecabinet.com - Ken Tidwell