Pitstop, as its name would indicate to all but the dimmest of minds, stands out from all other racing games because of its inclusion of pitstops in the course of the race. Collisions during the competition do not destroy the racing machine, they only bruise the life out of the tires and cost time. As the tires weaken they turn from dark to light blue to pinkish and the driver must decide to risk fate and take another lap before the tires can explode, or make a pitstop.

In the pits a cursor is used to designate and maneuver the four-man crew through their chores of tire changing and refueling. After a bit of practice these guys can be made to really shake it through the timed stop and the ritual becomes as important to the game as the actual racing skills on the track.

Each of the six exotic race courses is diagrammed on the side of the screen in all their hairpin, twisting glory with wicked turns that could give Jackie Stewart the cold sweats. But fantasy is a fragile thing and the reality of Pitstop is something less than harrowing, as the driver finds when he braces himself for an outrageous switchback only to find it as tame as a suburban boulevard. Disappointingly, the six "unforgiving" tracks merely blend into a pureed sameness.

Graphically, the cars are done in fine style but the trackside scenery consists of green flatlands and an occasional bush or sign. Mysteriously, a driver will find that a tire in need of change will be on the opposite side of his car when he pulls into the pits. As for gameplay, Pitstop is at its best in the more difficult settings where things are a little more hectic and the side-to-side motion of the cars add challenge.