Unless I'm grievously wrong, isn't this an unusual departure for Jumbo? A card game, that is, and the second in quick time from Reiner Knizia (following the disappointing Ohio) published by this Dutch company. Like its predecessor, it has quickly faded from the table, but that is more to do with the opinion of my regular host Alan How rather than the game's quality.

Jumbo Grand Prix has three things going for it, beyond the credentials of the author. Firstly, it has a very popular theme (motor racing), and is easy to learn and play. And, as the game is played in rounds, catch-up is possible.

The sturdy pack comprises four sets of grand Prix "essentials"--car bodies, engines, tyres and drivers--which must be collected to score variable points. Criticism one. If the game is based on Formula One, why wasn't the traditional points spread (1-10) used? Each player is given four rounds to collect the best car and driver available, from the initial deal (four cards) and subsequent play.

A turn consists of discarding one card, and drawing two more. These can be taken from the "general" face down pile, or, as cards are rejected, from one of the four face-up piles; the cards are stacked in type once they are relinquished.

This process is repeated until each player has accumulated eight cards, and the best of each category is revealed. The maximum point value of each card is seven, but a combination of three car cards or these plus a driver of the same value. ie all '4' raises their collective total to '7' each. The maximum total is therefore 28, from either four times '7' or four of an equal combination. Ties are decided by the highest driver rating, but if these are the same, the clincher is the laurel "winner's" motif depicted on these cards.

The four remaining cards are retained by the player, the rest shuffled, and the process is repeated until all the score cards have been earned. You can, of course, play to time.

What will inspire you to continue is the chance to pass another player on the closing straight, as it were, when the big '20' is revealed. But then I must raise criticism two, which is firmly pointed at the bland graphics. No sense of speed is generated, and this, of course, is contrary to the point. Nonetheless, Jumbo Grand Prix is a far better effort than the irksome Ohio, and their hiring of Reiner might point to a "major" release (with all the Jumbo trappings) in the future.