Race Driver: GRID the all-new exhilarating racing experience from Codemasters Studios, recently launched in the U.S. and throughout Europe to critical acclaim, is to be fully localised for release in Japan later this year, Codemasters announced today.

One of the highest rated racing videogames of recent years, Race Driver: GRID already features Japanese specific content, including Drift and Touge race events and locations that include Tokyo Shibuya, Yokohama and Haruna.

The Playstation 3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft editions of game will now be adapted to include Japanese speech and text throughout in readiness for its arrival in the market this winter.

“As Codemasters continues to gain significant ground in the global videogame business, the release of Race Driver: GRID in Japan will also see the arrival of the Codemasters brand as a publishing label in the market,” said Rod Cousens, CEO, Codemasters. “We have pursued options in the market for some time and this announcement is but a first indication of our ambitions in that market.”

On release, the Japanese edition of Race Driver: GRID will come complete with a full copy of the flagship off-road racer, Colin McRae: DiRT. The dual offering is expected to be well received; earlier Race Driver and Colin McRae titles have enjoyed success in the market when published under licence.

“The recent success of key western titles in Japan is indicative of the current trend where Japanese gamers are not only more aware of popular western gaming brands but actively seeking them out,” continued Cousens. “With Race Driver: GRID set to be fully localised and arrive bundled with Colin McRae: DIRT, it is an opportune time for Codemasters to enjoy brand success in Japan.”

A brand new BMW 3-Series car will be the ultimate champion’s reward as Codemasters today revealed an incredible pan-European fastest lap challenge to mark the launch of the Race Driver: GRID™ playable demo for home consoles.

The demo is now available to download from Xbox Live Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and is available later today from the PlayStation Network for the PS3 system.

For the game that’s all about the race, the Race Driver: GRID™ playable demo delivers intense competition right from the off as gamers compete in single-player GRID World events, 12-player online races and then prove their worth in the white-knuckle Time Trial competition, which is home to the fastest lap challenge. Pitting all console players against each other, it’s the Time Trial results that will see one race driver getting the keys to the BMW.

With a BMW 3-Series car up for grabs, the competition is sure to be fierce from the start, so download the demo and then get revved up for the full aggressive wheel-to-wheel Race Driver: GRID experience, coming May 30th for Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3 system and Games for Windows; a Nintendo DS™ edition of the game is set to launch in June.

Eurosport and SimBin Studios have announced the V-WTCC, the Virtual Touring Car Championship. The championship will use SimBin’s RACE 07.

There will be five semi-finals with pre-qualifying taking place online. The best qualifiers for each round will then race on site during five European WTCC event for a seat in the Grand Finale at the FIA WTCC race meeting in Monza.

The new championship will also get TV coverage on Eurosport in the youth-oriented programme BUZZ.

Stay tuned for more info as it becomes available.

FIA WTCC

The upcoming Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will feature a total of 71 cars from the world’s most iconic manufacturers.

Slipstreaming.net brings you the list:

Lexus IS F ‘07
Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec II Nur ‘02
Nissan Fairlady Z Version S ‘07
Nissan Skyline Sedan 350GT Type SP ‘06
Nissan Skyline Coupe Concept ‘07
Nissan Skyline Coupe 370GT Type SP ‘07
Nissan Skyline Coupe (V36) Tuned Car
Nissan GT-R Proto ‘05
Nissan GT-R ‘07
Honda Integra TYPE R ‘04
Honda NSX Type R ‘02
Acura NSX ‘91
Mazda Atenza Sport (2007 Tokyo Motor Show reference exhibit)
Mazda RX-8 Type S ‘03
Mazda RX-7 Spirit R Type A (FD)
Mazda RX-7 (FD) Special Tuned Car
Subaru Impreza WRX STI (18inch BBS Wheel Option) ‘07
Subaru Impreza Sedan WRX STI spec C Type RA ‘05
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX GSR ‘05
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X GSR Premium Package ‘07
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX GSR Tuned Car
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X GSR Tuned Car
Suzuki Cappuccino ‘95
Suzuki Swift Sport ‘07
Suzuki Cervo SR ‘07
Suzuki Cappuccino Tuned Car
Suzuki Swift Sport Tuned Car
Daihatsu Copen Active Top ‘02
Daihatsu OFC-1 ‘07
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 ‘06
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (C6) Tuned Car
Dodge Viper GTS ‘02
Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe ‘06
Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe Tuned Car
Ford Mustang V8 GT Coupe Premium ‘07
Ford GT ‘05
Ford Focus ST ‘06
Ford GT Tuned Car
Audi R8 4.2 FSI R tronic ‘07
Audi TT Coupe 3.2 quattro ‘07
BMW Z4 ‘03
BMW 135i Coupe ‘07
BMW M3 Coupe ‘07
BMW 135tii ‘08
Mini Cooper-S ‘06
Mercedes-Benz SL 55 AMG ‘02
Volkswagen Golf GTI ‘01
Volkswagen Golf V GTI ‘05
Alfa Romeo 147 TI 2.0 TWIN SPARK ‘06
Alfa Romeo Brera Sky Window 3.2 JTS Q4 ‘06
Ferrari 599 ‘06
Ferrari F430 ‘06
Ferrari 512BB ‘76
Ferrari F40 ‘92
Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione ‘91
Citroen C4 Coupe 2.0VTS ‘06
Renault Clio Renault Sport V6 24V ‘00
Clio Renault Sport V6 24V Tuned Car
Aston Martin DB9 Coupe ‘06
Jaguar XK Coupe ‘06
Lotus Elise 111R ‘04
Lotus Elise ‘96
Lotus Elise 111R Tuned Car
Lotus Elise Tuned Car
TVR Tuscan Speed 6 ‘00
TVR Tamora ‘02
Art Morrison Corvette’60
Amuse/Opera Performance Gran Turismo 350Z RS
Amuse S2000 GT1 Turbo
Mine’s BNR34 Skyline GT-R N1 base ‘06
Blitz Dunlop ER34 ‘07

Codemaster’s are bringing their Race Driver brand over to handhelds with the Create & Race game developed exclusively for Nintendo DS. The game, which is set for release in late September, makes use of both the Stylus and the DS wi-fi capability. With the stylus the player can create tracks and personalize their cars and then challenge the world through wi-fi.

Racing into stores in late September exclusively for Nintendo DS, Race Driver™: Create & Race™ is the ultimate in handheld racing. With up to 4-player, Single-Card Play sharing, even the most extreme petrol head will have never-ending hours of intense racing ahead of them. Catch the latest video and the full car & track listings over at www.codemasters.com/createandrace.

The Swedish National Motorsport Authority Svenska Bilsportförbundet is now launching a new series for Virtual racing called Virtual Grand Prix.

The VGP series will use Simbin’s coming World Touring Car simulaton RACE 07 and will feature prize money at 100,000 SEK (approx. US$ 14,300).

“Virtual Grand Prix is a means for us to market auto sport towards younger talent and even to new markets such as gamers. Racing games and simulations are a natural part of racing but we believe VPG.se will be a step forward for the interest of motorsports in Sweden”, Magnus Öhrström of SBF says.

At VGP.se it’s now possible to dowload the demo of RACE 07 and compete online at the Brands Hatch circuit to get ready for the real season.

Codemaster’s famous TOCA Race Driver 3 will be out in a special PSP edition on February 16th.

The game will feature wireless multiplayer for up to twelve players and with Game Share four people can race each other with only one UMD. New in the game is the World Challenge championship which takes the players through five international championships where you will be competing in skill tests, specialised events and races.

With 36 real life tracks and over 40 cars PSP players could be in for a treat. The cars include the Audi A4 DTM, AMG-Mercedes C-Klasse DTM, Ford Falcon AU and BA, WilliamsF1 Team FW 27, Gemballa GTR 750 EVO, Holden Commodore VX and VY V8 Super, Koening GT-D and 360 GT, Nissan 350Z Nismo, Subaru Impreza 22 Track and N10 Track, TVR T400 R and the coolest motors from the British GT championship.

On December 24th Sony Computer Entertainment America announced that Gran Turismo HD Concept would be available as a free download at the PS Store. The Concept game gives the player the chance to try out the new Gran Turismo game. A new course and a selection of ten cars from Ferrari, Infiniti, Lotus, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Suzuki to name a few.

“Gran Turismo HD Concept provides PS3 and automotive fans a glimpse into the future of Gran Turismo,” states Kazunori Yamauchi, creator of the Gran Turismo franchise in the press release.

The cars available in the demo:

• Suzuki Cappucino
• Mazda Eunos Roadster
• Honda Integra TYPE R
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV GSR
• Infiniti G35 Coupe
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX GSR
• Lotus Elise 111R
• Nissan SKYLINE GT-R Vspec II
• Toyota Celica GT-FOUR Rally Car
• Ferrari 599

In “Time Trial” mode, the player selects a car and must complete the Eiger Nordwand course within the target time indicated at the top of the screen. Each time the player beats the target time, a new car is unlocked and made available for selection. As stated, upon unlocking all of the cars, the player can access tuned cars, along with the option to race Eiger Nordwand in the opposite direction.

In “Drift Trial” mode, the players drifting technique is tested, rather than their lap time. The player earns drift points based on their drift angles, racing lines, and speeds within evaluation zones located at various turns on the course. For each evaluation zone, the results are based on the number of flags and a numerical figure. The point total from all zones determines the players drift points for the lap and is counted toward the rankings.

The following settings are available during gameplay: 1) Transmission the player can select either Manual or Automatic. 2) Stability Management (SM) the player can turn this ON or OFF during gameplay. ASM is designed to prevent vehicle skidding by controlling each of the four wheel brakes independently. 3) Traction Control (TC) Level the player can set the TCS level, which senses drive-wheel slip and prevents wheel spin. 4) Tires the player can select front and rear tires from nine types of brands.

Sony has had the licence for the Formula 1 World Championship for quite a long time now, much to the dismay of fans of Geoff Crammond’s Grand Prix games like myself. For the PlayStation 3 Sony Studio Liverpool (formerly known as Psygnosis for the retro gamers out there) are developing a game with the working title Formula One Championship Edition.

Since it’s an official game we get all the drivers and the new teams from the 2006 F1 season: Scuderia Torro Rosso, Super Aguri and Midland. Apart from next-gen graphics the game now introduces safety car situations for the first time which will add a little bit of extra strategy to an ongoing race.

If this isn’t a reason to buy a PS3, then I don’t know what is.

It’s time to get your Gran Turismo HD fix of the day. We bring you four car models from the upcoming PS3 game.