Sony to sponsor Playstation 2 Rally Experience 04.

Sony Computer Entertainment Ireland today announced the sponsorship of the PlayStation 2 Rally Experience '04. The event takes place on the 25th of July and is the highlight of the Irish motorsport calendar, attracting some of the biggest names and teams from world rallying to Ireland.

Held at the award winning Punchestown racecourse, located only 30 minutes from Dublin, the one day spectacle features 30 of the top driver/car combinations in the country. The event takes place over a 4km asphalt stage with each driver completing 6 runs.

Lead driver for this year's event is Ford Focus driver Markko Martin, currently lying in second position in the WRC.

PlayStation 2 will be previewing WRC 4(TM), the fourth edition to the multi-million selling WRC franchise, at this years PlayStation 2 Rally Experience. Not due for release until November 2004, this will be a unique opportunity for gamers and WRC fans alike to see the only officially licensed product of the FIA World Rally Championship for next generation consoles.

Commenting on the announcement, Niall O'Hanrahan, Managing Director of Sony Computer Entertainment Ireland said: "PlayStation has a long history of association with various motor sports and driving games. We, in particular, have a strong involvement with rally sports. We are in the fourth year of an exclusive license agreement with the WRC and are therefore particularly delighted with being the title sponsor of the PlayStation 2 Rally Experience @ Punchestown."

"The addition of the PlayStation(R)2 brand name to the title is just the calibre of endorsement that illustrates the thrilling potential of the event," added Ronan Morgan, event promoter.