Two million units sold, the fastest selling game ever for the sport, and its first title to reach number one in over a decade. Let’s not forget the BAFTA either. Niggles aside, F1 2010 really was a cracking game. Or, so I’ve heard; see, I’m not exactly a big F1 fan. In fact, I’m not a fan of the motorsport at all. That said, I’m not oblivious to it either, I know the rules, racers, tracks, constructors and such, and it may even fill the space on my TV screen as it sits in the background – though that isn’t saying much, as given the chance I’d watch qualifying for Yorkshire pudding racing just to see if they sank. F1 is a sport that I neither adore nor detest, its just not for me; it was therefore a mild surprise at just how exciting F1 2011 was.

When Codemasters obtained the license and set about developing the first game for the motorsport for three years, there was a lot of pressure on them – only increased given that it was their new Birmingham-based studio’s first release. They rode any difficult waters it may have presented to release a game sitting proudly upon a 84 metacritic, and perhaps more importantly, a B+ from us.

Now another year, Codmasters are hard at work creating the “most competitive F1 game ever produced”. F1 2011 is certainly bringing a whole host of new features, upgrades and improvements. Even the tagline – “Be the driver, Live the life, Go compete” – is an upgrade over last years release. With new handling advancements, improved driver AI, enhanced damage and failures, heightened circuit fidelity, and the introduction of KERS and DRS, as well as a lot more changes to the driving portion of the racer, to try to create the best game yet. Additionally, the facets off of the track are being seen to, with Parc fermé and reaction cinematics that scale depending on your goals, enhanced garage animations, and new press feedback to attempt to enhance the experience as a Formula One driver.

“It is the racing that F1 2011 will be judged upon and it does not disappoint. ”

However, it is the competitive edge that is the main focus for 2011. Like the rally-racer DiRT 3, splitscreen will be implemented for the first time to allow racers to compete locally, or, if online is more your forte, you can race amongst a full grid populated by up to sixteen players and eight AI racers. New multiplayer objectives will bring an exciting scalability for racers; so say you’re not as high a rank as other drivers, nor have you got as good a car, finishing twentieth may be considered a success and thus your XP and garage reactions will adjust accordingly. As I’m sure most players of last years release will be over the moon to hear, there will be no more staring at a stats screen if you’re out of a race for whatever reason. You’ll now enter spectator mode which will allow you to watch the remaining racers from a variety of camera angles. Co-op championships will make an appearance for two players to team up, experiencing the highs and lows of team racing. Will you be chosen as the number one, be given priority for new parts or given the better pit crew, or will you be pipped to the podium.

It is the racing that F1 2011 will be judged upon though and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. It was interesting to see how a non-F1 fan like me could handle the game, and considering that, more often than not, my car remained intact, I was a little surprised. It was an adrenaline filled challenge at every corner, that was thoroughly enjoyable throughout. On each of the many, many times that my tires sped out from underneath me, spinning me off into the grass, it always felt as though it was down to my inability to control the car, rather than an error on part of the controls. F1 2011 is precise and smooth, but at heart incredibly difficult. Luckily, the assists settings are, as they were in DIRT 3, fantastic. With a variety of differing assists from gear systems, racing lines, braking assists, traction control and more, it opens the floor to all types of gamers.

“F1 2011 delivers a truly fantastic experience.”

Therefore, it didn’t take long for me to get to grips with the required driving style, and given the delicate handling, acceleration and speed required, it was a blessing. The sense of speed down the straights is electric and when you nail those corners at high speeds, it’s immensely satisfying. F1 2011 is certainly a challenging game, but then again, almost any game which sees you hurtling around a track at two-hundred miles-per-hour would be, yet you’ll settle in quickly and it really does start to become a blisteringly exciting racer.

The level of detail in this years release has been taken to another level. Tracks, cars, effects, racing mechanics, the lot; it’s all been upgraded and updated to provide the “most realistic racing experience yet.” It’s certainly an impressive looking game, which really shines in the wet – with the game seemingly finding an extra two gears before pumping the engine into overdrive, but it sounds superb as well. The power of the engines is brutal at times and helps F1 2011 deliver a truly fantastic experience. Combine all of the above and F1 2011 is shaping up to be a real contender this year.

Hell, if it can excite an F1 and sim-racer non-enthusiast like me, then it really is on to something special.