# Top Race

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 1996
- **BGG Rating**: 6.8
- **BGG Rank**: #3546
- **Players**: 2-6 (Best with: 4)
- **Duration**: 45 min
- **Weight**: 1.75 / 5
- **Designers**: Wolfgang Kramer
- **Artists**: Ferdi Krähling, Hans-Georg Schneider, Mathieu Paquette, Wollinsky
- **Publishers**: Alga, ASS Altenburger Spielkarten, Brio AB, Magma Éditions, Pegasus Spiele, Peliko Oy, Serges Medien
- **Categories**: Children's Game, Racing
- **Mechanics**: Auction / Bidding, Betting and Bluffing, Hand Management, Moving Multiple Units, Predictive Bid, Race

## Verdict
If you love fast races with a lot of negotiation, Top Race gives you guaranteed fun.Dynamic auctionStrategic bettingEasy hand managementShort playtimeSimple componentsRepetitive mechanicsLimited tactical depthRECOMMENDED

## Description
Top Race brings the thrill of the racetrack to the tabletop, but adds a layer of auction and betting that makes every race unpredictable. Each player starts with 200,000 credits and receives a deck of speed cards, which they can arrange in any order they like. Then the "Contestant" cards – representing the colored cars – are dealt face‑down and go up for auction. The opening bid is 10,000 credits and rises in 10,000 increments, forcing everyone to secure at least one car. The player who wins the last bid starts the round by playing a speed card, moving all cars according to the values shown (e.g., blue 6, white 4, etc.). Pieces only move forward, never backward, and cannot jump over another; only one car may occupy a space.

Speed cards also include "Sprints" for extra pushes and "Injuries" that delay a car, letting you sabotage opponents. When a car crosses the finish line its owner receives 200,000 credits; second place gets 150,000, third 100,000, and so on. Even after a player's car finishes, they keep playing their remaining speed cards because they can still affect the field. The race ends when the fifth car finishes or when all speed cards have been played. Then a new auction starts for the next race, and the game continues for the agreed number of heats. At the end, the player with the most money wins. The board is a single lane, but the mix of auctions, hand management and betting creates tension and high replay value, perfect for fans of quick, strategic, bluff‑heavy games.

## FAQ
### How many players can play?
2 to 6 players.

### How long does a game take?
About 45 minutes, depending on the number of heats.

### What is the game's complexity?
Light (BGG weight 1.75/5), easy to learn.

### What components are included?
Single‑lane board, speed cards, contestant cards, colored car tokens, and paper money.

### Who is the game suitable for?
Families, kids 8+, and fans of auction‑driven racing games.