The split-screen, four-player option is a first for 'serious' PlayStation driving games

There was a time kids, when mud, sweat 'n' gears racer V-Rally was regarded as top dog. Colin McRae Rally soon put the skids under that, though. However, a new version is set to trundle in from the lock-up...
Steve Bradley

V-Rally Championship Edition? Funny name...
It's a confusing name in that it makes it sound like an upgrade as opposed to a sequel. However, the French developers Eden Studios have essentially produced a completely new V-Rally. The twitchy controls of the original are gone and the cars handle like a dream. You can powerslide around the bends with ease - indeed, it seems that there's almost too much 'give'. In the last incarnation, you really had to work on chucking the buckets around corners.

What else is new?
Is that a question or a statement? The circuits are spread over 12 countries, including Finland, Sweden, England, Germany and France and if you take into account different stages, there are a whopping 92 tracks in all. If you played the original, you'll recognise some of the courses - they're based on those raced in the World Rally Championships. You get to drive on snow, mud, gravel and tarmac and some of the tracks undulate so you take off every now and again. Nice. It's reckoned that there are some 300 kilometres of road to traverse.

... and the cars?
The game might not have the Colin McRae or Tommi Makinen prefix, but all 18 licensed rally cars are included. Marques include Hyundai, Ford, Skoda, Renault, Peugeot, Mitsubishi and Subaru. Best of all, the developers have included 10 'locked' classic rally cars from yesteryear including a Mini Cooper and the fabulous Ford Escort Mexico.