TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge to offer four-player game share on PSP

Real cars, real physics and real damage – in a 'made up with computer graphics so you won't actually lose your no claims bonus' sense – is on the way with TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge.

Think sparks flying as you drag your chassis down the track, smoke billowing from burning rubber, shattering windscreens, doors flapping and wings ripped off, and cars that visually portray the results of every brutal collision.

And in a move that suggests Codemasters believes our Americans cousins can only bear so much reality, the publisher has revealed the game will be exclusive to the PAL countries (essentially Europe and Australia).

That seems a bit hard on the rest of the world, as TOCA is a series with form: TOCA Race Driver 2, which we reviewed last year, is already one of the PSP's many good driving games, although we found it a tad involving for casual gamers on the go.

Codemasters has perhaps realised the same thing. In its announcement it stresses TOCA 3 on PSP has been designed exclusively for the PSP with a focus on what it terms 'burst play'.

Certainly the game looks like making good use of the PSP's wi-fi features. In addition to single-player World Challenge, Free Race and Time Trial modes, TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge will offer wireless WLAN multiplayer action play for up to a 12 players simultaneously and further multiplayer action via Game Share, enabling up to four players to play off just one UMD – always a very welcome bonus.

Meanwhile that World Challenge mode looks like offering the kind of weekend-devouring depth the series is renowned for.

A series of tests and events will teach you racing concepts such as damage control, using the racing line, manoeuvring, timely pit stops and braking accuracy. Once qualified, you can begin to move through the ever more challenging tiers of the World Challenge Championship season, which plays out across a variety of the world's racing locations and introduces you to a wealth of different cars.

The British GP, the heavyweight touring cars of Australia's V8 Supercars and Germany's DTM events, and the American Race series – you'll get them all for your money with this one. The series concludes with a global Masters championship tier where you'll compete against the greatest racers from around the world.

If all this sounds like a face full of exhaust fumes to you – and that's a good thing – then you'll be pleased to hear the game should be out by Christmas.

Of course, TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge might prove to be an over-ambitious car crash. Knowing Codemasters' racing games, we think that's highly unlikely, but better reviewed that sorry. So click 'Track It!' to be steered in the right direction when we know more.