Codemasters has unveiled Race Driver: GRID's multiplayer features and revealed that the game - due out on PS3, 360 and PC on 30th May - features full damage modelling.

GRID features 32 online race events taking in 80 circuits overall, with support for 12 players online and a ranking system that rewards skill and persistence.

Players will be rewarded with points for winning and beating better-ranked opponents, among other things, graduating from Junior Rookie to Legend as they amass points.

Elsewhere, online leaderboards track progress on every track in every car class, and the very best performances are recorded as ghosts, which you can download and race against in Test Drive mode.

But it's the damage that you'll probably notice first, and it's core to what chief game designer Ralph Fulton describes as "incident-packed, aggressive, wheel-to-wheel racing".

"Our wide range of motorsport disciplines, stunning locations and full damage 12-player races make for a uniquely spectacular race experience and our immersive new ranking system rewards player skill and deepens the challenge online," he added.

But don't take his word for it - instead you can check out our exclusive Race Driver: GRID multiplayer hands-on preview, reporting on various races in different areas of the game and the performance we experienced playing online.

Some of the prospects, especially drift racing, are the sorts of things any fan of Forza 2 or PGR4 is going to be excited about.

You can also check out some multiplayer screenshots in amongst the latest batch to be added to our Race Driver: GRID screenshot gallery.