This is the first paragraph on the official RUF website, ‘RUF Automobile GmbH is a producer of high-performance vehicles, specializing in manufacturing new RUF automobiles from the bare chassis, conversions to RUF specification and the performance enhancement / refinement of Porsche cars’. 

That statement captures exactly why we had to have a RUF Rt 12 in SEGA Rally.

The RUF Rt 12 is described as a new dimension in driving pleasure; this is possible the truest ever statement about the RUF Rt 12.  RUF take a stunning motor vehicle bare chassis and then they create the miracle that is the Rt 12.

Let me list some technical stats for you; 650 bhp, 3.8 litre Biturbo
engine, rear wheel drive with 4 wheel drive as an option, improved
aerodynamic characteristics with RUF developed front/rear bumpers, rear
spoiler and side mirrors, 19″ RUF 5 spoke wheels, drilled/ventilated
discs, light alloy monobloc calipers, and suspension, packaged and
designed to reach 220mph.  What more needs to be said, this has to be
one of the most perfect high performance cars ever made?

It just looks truly amazing, and drives like some kind of automotive god, this has to be one of the fastest and most brutal cars in SEGA Rally.  Strong rear wheel drive on loose gravel/mud surfaces amounts to a lot of drifting fun, the only question is will you use anything else once you’ve unlocked the RUF Rt 12?

Check out the official SEGA Rally website now at www.segarally.com

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The brainchild of rally champion Alister McRae, the McRae Enduro is a new rally car concept that combines outstanding driving dynamics and modern turbo-diesel power with the extra traction that comes with a sophisticated suspension set-up and four-wheel-drive.

The rugged McRae Enduro has been designed to compete in the most extreme off-road events including the FIA Cross-Country rallies, Baja-type events and the gruelling Dakar Rally.

I first met with two of the guys behind the McRae Enduro back in the early development of SEGA Rally. We were all excited to have the opportunity to work together and the development relationship became even stronger when I actually started to get involved not just with the in-game model but in the actual design process of the McRae Enduro itself. Opportunities like this don’t come along very often so to be able to offer help and advice on the look and shape of the McRae Enduro was just too good to turn down.

I think the end result is very cool and can’t wait to see the real thing in action.

The McRae Enduro will be making its video game debut in SEGA Rally.  

More information can be found on the McRae Enduro website; www.mcrae-enduro.com

Want some more, well we’ve got a blog every day this week covering off some of the most exciting cars featuring in SEGA Rally?

Check out the official SEGA Rally website now at www.segarally.com

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Big, fast and brutal trucks thrashing through mud and snow, it’s a perfect scenario isn’t it? 

That was why we chose to put a Rally Raid HUMMER in SEGA Rally, and this is no ordinary HUMMER this is a Customized H3 SUV. 

We noticed that a number of race specification versions were being raced in off road events events across the world and they were doing very well.  So that pretty much decided it for us, we had to have a racing HUMMER in SEGA Rally!

The design is based on the HUMMER H3 SUV, but I shortened the overall body height, lowered the ride height, removed most of the glass work from the drivers/passenger doors, added Rally Raid spec wheels and tyres, deleted most of the roof bars, rear doors and door handles and then designed an appropriate racing livery. The result retains the strong HUMMER vibe, but also adds the pedigree of a stripped down and raw racing truck.

It looks superb in game bouncing and jumping all over the place, and the scale of the thing is crazy racing against some of the smaller cars (shoving them out of the way is great fun).

Want some more, well we’ve got a blog every day this week covering off some of the most exciting cars featuring in SEGA Rally?

Can’t wait till then? Then visit our
official website where there are now over 100 SEGA Rally screenshots, plus
the sassy environmental sizzle videos.

Check them out now at www.segarally.com

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This is the ultimate performance racing Audi, the Pikes Peak version of the Audi Sport quattro S1.  Take a world class Audi rally car platform, shorten the wheelbase and widen the wheel track and then increase the number of valves in the twin cam cylinder head.  What you end up with is a fire breathing 500bhp monster of a rally car.

Then to use this beast on the legendary Pikes Peak Hill Climb add monstrously large front and rear spoilers, which very nicely match the widened body panels.  The result is a rally car that is lightweight and has enough downforce to keep it on the ground in high speed corners.

However the real reason why we chose this car for SEGA Rally is that it looks absolutely amazing and sounds like something from another planet. The images tell the story!

Want some more? New to the
official website there are now over 100 SEGA Rally screenshots, plus
the sassy environmental sizzle videos. Check them out now at www.segarally.com

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Have you ever seen extreme Icelandic Racing?  No, well if you have you will definitely have seen trucks like our Icelandic Racer.  Iceland have held extreme off road racing on loose sand circuits for nearly 20 years. 

Many of the competitors race bespoke handmade custom trucks like this one, they are usually 4 wheel drive, very light weight, exceptionally agile, have large capacity big bhp engines, and many of the photos I sourced for reference showed most of them upside down or rolling down impossible slopes.

The balloon-like low pressure tyres are designed to hook into loose
surfaces with the large shovel-like shapes on the tyre tread.  It has
also been known that at high speeds these trucks can skim over the
surface of water!

Like the previously mentioned Andorra Racer this vehicle has been designed in-house specifically for SEGA Rally.  The paint scheme was heavily based on the Mongoose logo you can see in the livery, the orange and purple looks vivid enough to compliment the extreme look of the vehicle but at the same time it ties in nicely with the sponsor logos.

Want some more? New to the official website there are now over 100 SEGA Rally screenshots, plus the sassy environmental sizzle videos. Check them out now at www.segarally.com

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Not many games have enjoyed the level of anticipation that SEGA Rally’s
move to next-gen has had. And as the release date ticks ever closer,
we’re jumping back into the Co-Driver seat with programmer Dave Hosier,
who answers our questions and reminisces on the years of abuse he gave
Evel Kenival…

What are your all-time favourite video games?
The list would be very long, so I’ll limit myself to 5:
Robotron, Outrun 2 SP, Star Wars, Tempest 2000, Puzzle Bobble

What games are you playing at the moment?
Crackdown, Forza Motorsport 2, Odin Sphere, Halo 3 (Beta)

What’s your role on the development of SEGA Rally?
I’m a programmer on the game team.  Main areas of work have been in game flow, game modes and UI.

Are there any real-world experiences you’ve drawn upon to help make SEGA Rally?
During development, we had the chance of a passenger ride at speed in a Group N rally car.  That was a real eye-opener for the sheer amount of power and grip that they can put down even on extremely loose surfaces.

Who is the best SEGA Rally player in the office?
I think Rich Todd, our studio QA lead, will probably be top of the leaderboards.

Who is your all-time favourite driver? Why?
Valentino Rossi - Yes, he’s primarily known for riding bikes, but he’s proved to be good on four wheels too!  He has immense talent, great racing spirit and a great personality.

What car do you drive? Why?
TVR T350. Different and engaging to drive.

What five vehicles would you have sitting in your fantasy garage? Why?
Aston Martin V8 Vantage - a local hero
Audi RS4 - an all-rounder
Ferrari 430 - well, you’d have to really
Ducati 1098 - some two-wheeled fun
Mini - for pottering around

What is the fastest speed you’ve ever travelled in a road vehicle?
Around 140mph.  

What were your favourite TV shows as a kid?
Battle of the Planets was a definite.

Which toy could you never seem to put down as a child?
My Evel Kenival Stunt Cycle was played with to destruction!

If you could listen to one tune while you drive, what would it be?
“Parallax [Title] - Reyn Ouwehand from Galway Remixed” is top of my driving games playlist

You’re stranded on a desert island, which car part would you take with you, and why?
A nice comfy bucket seat!

If you weren’t making games, you’d be…?
…playing them!

Describe SEGA Rally in five words?
Has that essence of SEGA

To find out more about SEGA Rally, why not visit the official website at www.segarally.com

You’re probably quite aware by now that SEGA Rally has quite a varied selection of cars, so it won’t be much of a surprise to know that we have also included the Audi quattro A2 and the Peugeot 205 T16 Evolution 2. 

Both of these cars were pioneers within the Rally scene, the Peugeot 205 T16 Evolution 2 was one of the most successful Group B cars to have ever existed, and the Audi quattro A2 brought four wheel drive systems to the world of rallying which paved the way for today’s WRC cars.

Audi were one of the first manufacturers to take advantage of the new rule amendments that meant all-wheel-drive cars could now compete.  So in 1983 the first version of Audi’s new quattro A1 (the engine block was made out of aluminium so the car received the A1 suffix) was used to much success, it was however plagued by engine and ancillary failures so that years manufacturers title eventually went to Lancia with the two wheel drive 037. 

It was the following years that saw the new Audi quattro A2 display it’s truly victorious colours with manufacturer and driver WRC titles.

It was the following years that saw the new Audi quattro A2 display
it’s truly victorious colours with manufacturer and driver WRC titles.

The Peugeot 205 T16 Evolution 2 was special for being a great all rounder, it was very difficult to drive but when it was handled right it did great things.  It may look like a normal road going Peugeot 205 but believe me it is nothing like a normal Peugeot 205.

The 1.8 Garrett turbo charged engine (capable of 435-700bhp depending on state of tune) was mounted at the rear of the car, and access was gained by the whole back end body panel hinging from the roof.  The body work was Kevlar/Plastic with the main chassis being fabricated from sheet and tubular steel.

Want some more? Then check out our brand new Canyon sizzle trailer at www.segarally.com

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Rally racing means nothing unless you can appreciate how sexy the cars look covered in mud, and Keith Burden appreciates this more than most. That’s why he’s Lead Car Artist on SEGA Rally, which means he’s the man the makes the vehicles a joy to behold…

Q… What are your all-time favourite video games?
Manic Miner, Space Harrier, After Burner, GTA Vice City, GranTurismo2, StarCraft

Q… What games are you playing at the moment?
Dawn of War Dark Crusade and After Burner on the PSP

Q… Are there any real-world experiences you’ve drawn upon to help make SEGA Rally?
I have an unhealthy addiction to shiny painted car surfaces.

Q… Who is the best SEGA Rally player in the office? And the worst?
Jamie Lowes or Mark Mainey probably…I’m possibly the worst but I’ve heard our office manager isn’t that good either LOL!

Q… Who is the best driver in the studio? And the worst?
Well I would say Guy my boss is…but secretly I know I am!  I’d probably say that the people in the studio who don’t drive wouldn’t be that good behind the wheel.

Q… Who is your all-time favourite driver? Why?
Ayrton Senna - the best F1 driver ever, and because he helped develop one of the best sport cars in history.

Q… What car do you drive? Why?
1998 Honda Prelude and a 1969 Riley Elf.  The Elf is old skool, pimpin, badboy goodness (and cheap to run/keep), and the Lude is slowly being turning into Kit from Knight Rider.

Q… What five vehicles would you have sitting in your fantasy garage? Why?
Aston Martin DBR9 - because it’s automotive sex.
Suzuki Hayabusa - because it’s Japanese motorbike madness.
Honda NSX Type R GT - A JGTC car for the road.
1968-69 Karmann Ghia Coupe - sweet, sweet 60’s coolness.
1962 Corvette Mako Shark - The best looking Corvette ever made.

Q… What is the fastest speed you’ve ever travelled in a road vehicle?
137 miles an hour.

Q… Name your favourite movie car chase?
The end of ‘Smokey and the Bandit’…you know the bit with all the trucks and police cars…or maybe the Mustang scene from ‘Gone in Sixty Seconds’ (original version).

Q… What were your favourite TV shows as a kid?
Transformers, Centurions, Thundercats, Star Fleet, and Battle of the Planets.

Q… Which toy could you never seem to put down as a child?
Gobot Cy-Kill, Transformers Ravage, and a ‘74 Stutz BlackHawk Hot Wheels car that I custom sprayed.

Q… If you could listen to one tune while you drive, what would it be?
Soldier - Eminem

Q… You’re stranded on a desert island, which car part would you take with you?
The petrol.

Q… If you weren’t making games, you’d be…?
A car mechanic or body shop bloke.

Keith has also been talking to us in a bit more depth about all the cars featured in SEGA Rally. The blog features some great artwork of each car and is sure to have you salivating with excitement. Check them out now - click here

Otherwise, be sure to check back next Thursday for next week’s interview, where we’ll be Co-Driving with Dave Hosier, programmer on SEGA Rally.

Visit the official website now to watch the brand new environmental sizzle trailers - www.segarally.com

A good rally game needs lots of classic rally cars, and as you can imagine SEGA Rally has the very best classic vehicles. The Masters Class contains six classics in total and two of those are the previously mentioned Toyota Celica ST205 and the Lancia Super Delta HF integrale.

The next two classics to go under the microscope are the Ford Escort RS Cosworth and the Lancia Stratos. These are both considered absolute legends in the world of rallying.

Ford have always rallied cars, right back to the 1960’s when the Ford Cortina GT was seen kicking up dust from those raggedy loose back ends (lovely rear lights though).  Ford are still one of the most prominent teams in the WRC with their latest Ford Focus RS WRC06 rally car, but back in the mid-nineties they were running one of the most desirable rally cars of the time, the Ford Escort RS Cosworth.

Just look at that whale tail spoiler and quad-style headlights, that is pure breed, functional motorsport styling. The liveries for this car are quite special as well, as we were able to get really close to correct and existing colourways and decal layouts.  The Mobil 1 themed Livery 2, and Michelin themed Livery 3 are very pretty indeed.

Like Ford, Lancia have been part of the rally scene since the mid-60’s and have had a large part to play in introducing new technology and harvesting top-flight drivers. The Lancia Stratos featured in SEGA Rally 2 and is a popular choice for rally enthusiasts and car collectors around the world. The bodyshell was a steel monocoque incorporating the roll cage and steel tube subframes, the front and rear bodywork was made from glassfibre.

The engine was a V6 borrowed from the Ferrari Dino 246, so you can only imagine what it sounded like on a fully open throttle. Like all classics there were a wealth of livery types this car was famous for, we chose two that are absolute classics and one that is fairly contemporary yet still retains that classic flavour.

Want some more? Then check out our brand new Canyon sizzle trailer at www.segarally.com

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SEGA Rally has always been synonymous with two cars. They began the SEGA Rally story and they continue the legend, these two cars are absolute rally classics and are legendary within their own right. Which two cars am I talking about? SEGA Rally Masters - the Toyota Celica ST205 and Lancia Super Delta HF integrale.

These two cars started it all off in 1995, the white, red and green liveried Celica against the white, blue and red liveried Delta. So it isn’t even an option to not have these two in the new 2007 SEGA Rally. The liveries are slightly updated but the cars are exactly the same; just a bit higher resolution

The first hurdle when building cars for videogames is finding the reference material required for the build. Some cars are difficult to research as they might be quite rare or generally bespoke. Some cars we can actually go and photograph or find a road version to photograph (Cars like the Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution are easy to find), and some cars have so much reference you just don’t know where to start or what to use.

The Delta and Celica fall into the latter category, the internet is rife with images of the Delta and Celica carving up European rallies in the early 90’s, and many car collectors will have one of either of these in pristine condition under a dust cover somewhere. We were lucky to find a competition spec Delta at a local Historic motorsport event, and the owners were more than happy for us to clamber all over it taking millions of photographs of all of it’s many nooks and crannies!

These two cars form part of our Masters Class which means they have additional unlockable liveries. What I try and maintain across all three of the in-game car classes is that the multiple liveries are sympathetic and correlate with the age and style of the cars. So for example a brand new Peugeot 207 Super 2000 will happily carry a white and bright purple T-Mobile livery as it is a sharp and edgy looking vehicle.

When you livery the classics and older rally cars you have to be sympathetic to the age and shapes of the cars, so the Delta and Celica have been liveried with decals and colours that you would expect to find in that era of motorsport. In most cases I try and use an existing livery design and then maybe change a colour way to match the required sponsor that car is going to wear. As a method I think it works quite well, and it means we always get car liveries that look just right.

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out more about SEGA Rally at www.segarally.com

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