Colin McRae and TOCA both bound for PSP

Codemasters has declared its support for the PlayStation Portable this afternoon, promising to release versions of both Colin McRae Rally 2005 and TOCA Race Driver 2: The Ultimate Racing Simulator on the Sony handheld in spring 2005.

Both games are being developed externally. CMR 2005 will be handled by Six By Nine, the team responsible for the PC ports of the last three versions of Colin McRae, while, interestingly, TOCA Race Driver 2 is being ported by none other than Sumo Digital, the Sheffield-based outfit responsible for Xbox fave OutRun2. Codies insists that both games will attempt to bring as much of their respective progenitors to the handheld format as possible.

In CMR 2005's case that means over 30 rally cars, and a huge range of events, cups and championships including 4WD, career and wireless multiplayer modes. And Codies reckons you'll be able to pick up and play for as little or as long as you want, as the game will record all progress without your having to wait for a save point. You can see six screenshots of the PSP CMR 2005 here.

TOCA Race Driver 2, meanwhile, will utilise the same engine as the home console versions of the same, will feature more than 30 global championships stretched across 52 circuits, and will inherit all 15 different motorsport disciplines from the PS2 version. For the record that's GT Sports Car Racing, Street Racing, Rally, DTM, V8 Supercars, Global GT Lights, Rally Cross, Formula Ford, Open Wheel Grand Prix, Classic Car Racing, Super Truck Racing, Stockcar Oval Racing, Ice Racing, Convertible Racing and Performance Cars. Phew. Furthermore, Codies is promising up to 21 cars on track at once, and wireless LAN play for up to eight people.

We'll bring you more on both as it screeches up to our door.