Now, just in time for the new V8 season, V8 Supercars 3: Shootout pops onto Sony's smallest machine, the PSP. The one question remains, entering into such a crowded and over-accomplished genre on the PSP – Burnout, Wipeout and Ridge Racer all fine examples of excellence – can V8 Supercars offer enough for the motorhead in all of us?

The PSP version of the game feels and looks reasonably similar to its older PlayStation 2 counterpart but differs in a couple of major ways. The PSP presents a career path in the form of the World Challenge option. These challenges take the player around the globe, participating in a string of driving trials before each set culminates in a championship series of races. Once one championship is finished in a high enough position, the next level of difficulty opens up.

On the novice level, where drivers race across UK circuits, things are relatively easy; the Normal level, racing through the Australasian events, is a little more challenging; while Master difficulty, taking on the entire world, will be sure to leave your thumbs in painful agony for weeks.

The challenges are done a little differently than one would expect. Before actually taking part in the frantic races themselves, players must prove their ability behind the wheel, tackling various driving situations and mastering them. Kind of reminiscent of actually learning to drive in the real world - how novel - V8 Supercars 3 strives for that little bit of realism that is missing from the majority of PSP driving games.

The various challenges are, for the majority, taxing in their demands at accuracy. They range from the unpleasant: the braking test assigns you small areas in which to stop, on the surface it seems easy, but stopping with 90% accuracy in the time limit can be frustratingly hard; through to the fun: the average speed test challenges you to stay above a certain speed through a number of laps on an open circuit - your current average speed is given to you throughout the lap.

And then there is the downright exasperating: the steering control test forces you to drive between a series of cones in a set time - hitting any cone is a penalty, throwing your PSP at the wall in frustration is a different kind of penalty.

The challenges will provide the main core experience for the majority of PSP owners, but the game provides a number of other interesting experiences. One of the big selling points (it's on the cover) is the game-sharing feature available through one UMD. Get your friends to download the demo and away you go. The multi-player fun doesn't stop there, either: the game also supports a 12 player racing component.

The standard Free Play and Time Trials are also featured within V8 Supercars 3, which allows you to race through any of the vehicles and tracks you have unlocked in the World Challenge mode. With the game featuring over 30 different tracks and cars, unlocking them all will be an achievement that test the metal of the even the hardcore gamer.

V8 Supercars 3 has to be applauded at its translation from the home console versions. Graphically the game stands up remarkably, with only a few frame rate issues to undermine an otherwise worthy representation. All the car models are detailed and really shine on the PSP's LCD screen. Crucially, the game delivers on a sonic level, giving a nice illustration of the roar usually associated with the V8s, something that when done wrong is hugely detrimental to the overall package.

The realism makes the game stand apart from the other more arcadey racers usually found on the PSP; in fact the realism can be a little daunting at times. Players used to the Burnout style of braking, i.e., smashing into your opponent while drifting around corners, will find this game a lot less forgiving. These cars have a lot of things that can, and will, break on them unless the cars are handled with loving, patient care. The long-suffering PSP analog stick can be a little hard to handle at times and many players will find themselves having to rely on the D-pad for a more accurate response and feel.