[SommerMatt]

The differences in the main F1-style game are minimal. You basically have updated components-- the dashboards instead of the scratchpad, painted vehicles, etc. Of course, since the original game is long OOP, this is the only chance you have to buy the game NEW and get new tracks (or reprinted tracks, hopefully).

As for what's totally new, you have the road race style of gameplay. It uses special maps, special cars, and special rules... it's basically a bit sillier and gives each player a "character" with special abilities or powers (one character is a girl that is so cute she causes everyone she passes to roll to see if they lose track of what they're doing, for example). There are also "slum zones" on the map where you have to actually roll to see if your car takes damage from random gunfire.

I haven't actually played my new version yet, although I am a veteran of the original Formula De (played in a 16 + week league with 9 other people). I have to agree that the game is full-on awesome, and while it DOES consist of rolling dice, strategy definitely plays a major factor. It helps a LOT to have a larger group of players, though-- 2-3 player races are pretty boring affairs.