Lets say, this is a partial solution!But works for me....
First of all,dont laugh :-)
I changed my settings to 1024x768, 2x AA,2xAF,32 bit....
(was 800x600,16bit,no AA,no AF)
I also opened up the config file and enter the value for memory to 1024
(have 512 MB of ram)
Upgraded the game to ver. 1.5
And what i have got....
The game doesnt freeze at all before the first race in the menues. I can go
through all the menues
as long I want...The 3 hour race is not a problem without any stuttering...
Going back to garage, doing some setup stuff,and all the menues and options
in the garage work well and there is no Freeze-menu-effect...
But when I exit the garage to main menu to select,another car,race or mode,
the game freezes,lets say every second or third time...
BUT THERE IS THE TRICK THAT WORKS FOR ME (hope for somebody else to)
After I finish the race, I go straight out of the game (back button in left
corner), my setup and race is saved and I can get of the game without
Menu-Freeze, click on the game icon, start the game again and play another
race without problems.....
BUT DONT CLICK ANY OTHER BUTTON THEN "BACK" TO GET OUT OF THE GAME....
Totaly, 30 second lost and NO HARD RESET!!!
I said at the beginning,I was desperate so DONT LAUGH! :-)
Hope this helps someone else to...
Cheers!