FORMULA ONE FACT FILE

From the starting grid to the chequered flag

nIn an attempt to counter piracy, Peter embedded some code into the loading screen that modified some of the main game data. Hackers contacted CRL, praising the technique and claiming it took them several hours to crack.

nThe image on the cassette inlay was inspired by the real life Crl-sponsored racing car.

nPeter’s main passion is motorbikes. After his Sierra Sapphire Cosworth was stolen for a third time in the early Nineties, he purchased a Honda 400 Supertwin. Six weeks later, George Munday bought a Ducati 600, and the pair regularly travelled to the Isle Of Man TT and other tours throughout Europe.

nThere’s a unique code inserted into the game that appears if you win Formula One at the hardest difficulty, with CRL stumping up a prize for the first to find it. Having never managed it themselves, Peter and George were surprised when it was claimed within one month after the game’s release.

nAn Amstrad port was converted by CRL’S Richard Taylor.

nWhile random to a certain degree, the player could influence the in-race events by choosing the right type of car and equipment for each course and conditions.

nEndurance was developed after Peter had moved to an assignment in Sweden with the friends posting Microdrives to each other every Monday.

nTowards the end of Endurance’s development, George Munday loaded up his Ferrari with Spectrum kit and drove from Loughton, Essex, to Gothenburg, via Belgium, Holland, Germany and Denmark.

nPeter and George continued to play games themselves, devolving to the logical platform of PC and Mac.

nInspired by gamers remembering Formula One, Peter created a web-based version of the game. It never progressed past a beta version of its single-player mode, but he is happy to share it with anyone wanting to take it further.