Speed Circuit
Realistic Formula I racing game emphasizing car tuning and player prediction.
Speed Circuit is a Formula I racing board game for two to six players, with an option to add up to six more. It first appeared in 1971 from 3M, and Avalon Hill republished it in 1977. The Avalon Hill edition includes a mounted board showing three tracks—Monaco, Monza, and Watkins Glen—along with six cars (metal in the original printing, plastic later), a pad of player logs, a rulesheet, and a six-sided die.
Each player begins with a car that has a start speed of 40 mph, acceleration and deceleration of 20 mph, a top speed of 140 mph, and four wear points. From a pool of five points, players spend zero, one, or two points on each category. This yields start speeds of 40, 60, or 80 mph; acceleration or deceleration of 20, 40, or 60 mph per turn; top speeds of 140, 160, or 180 mph; and wear points of four, five, or six.
Players choose a track and number of laps. The driver with the highest start speed takes the inside lane on the front row, with others arranged behind. Ties are broken randomly. On the first turn, each driver writes down their start speed. A player may try to increase it by 20 mph but risks stalling on a die roll of five or six, leaving them at the start until the second turn. Two consecutive stalls eliminate the car. The lead car moves first, advancing one square per 20 mph of speed, followed by the others in order. A car cannot voluntarily leave the track if another blocks its path—that causes a collision.
After the first turn, each player secretly records their next speed. It can stay the same, increase by up to the car’s maximum acceleration, or decrease by up to its maximum deceleration, all in 20 mph increments. The lead car moves first again. Speeds are fixed once revealed; drivers cannot change them to avoid a crash.
Drivers can exceed maximum acceleration by 20 mph, risking engine damage. They can also exceed maximum deceleration by up to 80 mph, which may cost wear points or cause a spin-out, forcing a standing start on the next turn. Corner spaces have speed limits and a long arrow. Entering a corner above the limit risks losing wear points, spinning out, or crashing. Following the arrow from start to finish allows taking the corner 20 mph over the limit without penalty.
If a car starts a turn behind another on a straightaway and is going the same speed or slower, the trailing driver may slipstream. This adds 20 mph if the lead c
- publisher_original
- 3M
- year_published
- 1971
- publisher_republished
- Avalon Hill
- year_republished
- 1977
- players
- 2-6 (expandable to 12)
- tracks_included
- Monaco, Monza, Watkins Glen
- components
- folding board, six cars, player logs, rulesheet, six-sided die
Lore & Background
Speed Circuit was originally designed and published by 3M in 1971. Avalon Hill acquired the rights and Don Greenwood redeveloped the game before it was re-released in 1977 with six metal cars. Players could order six extra cars from Avalon Hill to enable games with up to twelve players, and could also order 12 additional tracks to supplement the three included in the game. Avalon Hill re-released the game in 1989, replacing the metal cars with plastic cars. In 1991, the German game company Klee produced a German-language edition. In 2015 UltraPro ran a Kickstarter to publish a revision under the new title Championship Formula Racing, which was published in 2016 and continues to be played in Play-by-eMail and in-person events including new leagues based in D
Reader's Guide
Speed Circuit is significant as a pioneering simulation-style racing board game that prioritizes strategic decision-making over random chance. Players customize their cars by allocating points to start speed, acceleration, deceleration, top speed, and wear points, then race on three famous Formula I tracks. The game's mechanics—including cornering speed limits, slipstreaming, and collision penalties—require players to anticipate opponents' moves and manage risk. Reviews have noted that luck plays almost no role, and that outguessing opponents in corners is a real challenge. The game was included in Games magazine's top 100 games of 1986 and has been praised for its realism. Its legacy includes a revised edition (Championship Formula Racing) and ongoing organized play, demonstrating its enduring appeal among racing game enthusiasts.
Did You Know?
- The Avalon Hill edition included three Formula I race courses: Monaco, Monza, and Watkins Glen.
- Players could order 15 additional tracks from Avalon Hill to supplement the three included in the game.
- A car that stalls two turns in a row is out of the race.
- The game was included in Games magazine's top 100 games of 1986.
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