Take to the virtual grid as F1 2009 races into retail

Tuesday 17th November/… FORMULA ONE™ fans around the world will get the chance to take to the virtual grid and emulate their heroes as F1 2009 on the Nintendo Wii™ and PSP® races into stores across North America today, sprints into PAL territories on 19th November and accelerates onto UK streets on 20th November. The PSP edition of F1 2009 will also be available as a download from the PlayStation® Store at launch.

The official game of the 2009 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™, F1 2009 features all of the drivers, teams and circuits from the thrilling 2009 season. This will be the first time that drivers such as Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have appeared in a FORMULA ONE game and F1 2009 will also be the first game to include the 2009 FIA FORMULA ONE CONSTRUCTORS’ WORLD CHAMPIONS BRAWN GP as well as new circuits such as the Singapore night race and the stunning Yas Marina in the United Arab Emirates.

Gamers can fully participate in GRAND PRIX Weekends, including all of the practice sessions, qualifying and the race, compete in the full 17 round Championship mode, or take on a three-season Career mode and progress between teams in a battle for the ultimate prize to become the FIA FORMULA ONE DRIVERS’ WORLD CHAMPION. Gamers can also jump into Quick Races, set fastest laps in Time Trials or test their skills across a variety of mini-games including overtaking a set number of cars, gate challenges and flying laps in Challenge mode.

All of these game modes are also available in both competitive and co-operative multiplayer with the Wii version supporting two player split screen and the PSP version allowing four players to play together via ad hoc multiplayer sessions. For fair racing between players of different abilities, the game will suggest driver aids for each racer depending upon their skill level, making F1 2009 accessible to players of all ages and experience.