New rally racer muds it up

Codemasters has today confirmed that its much loved and hugely successful off-road series is to reappear after its two year pit-stop as a next-gen racer, under the working title of CMR'07.

Currently penciled in for unnamed "next-generation platforms," the British-developed veteran racer will include all manner of enhancements and new modes alongside its traditional high-speed rallying, with the focus on realism and detail.

Along with the international events, official cars and real tracks, the game will also introduce against the clock racing, facing multiple opponents on the same track, Hill Climb events and the bump and grind of Rally Cross meetings.

The team is also promising that, along with all these new modes, the game will keep its air of authenticity through intuitive handling, a comprehensive tuning system and the opportunity to play against the world in a refined online multiplayer system.

But we aren't the only ones excited by it, for Gavin Raeburn, executive producer of the series, gushed: "It's being designed to offer a totally accessible, high-speed and adrenalin-fueled ride for newcomers to the series, yet race-hardened McRae players will be able to delve under the bonnet and immerse themselves in the most challenging of competitions."

May 4, 2006