F1 2011 announced for September

The next annual instalment of Codemasters' Formula 1 racing series is in development at its Birmingham studio and headed for a September release, the publisher announced today.

As well as the standard PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 editions, there'll be "bespoke" versions of F1 2011 for the Nintendo 3DS and Sony NGP, "each designed to take advantage of the new platforms' unique capabilities." The PC edition will be a Games For Windows Live title.

As for what's new, Codemasters promises "wide-ranging technical and gameplay advancements on and off track and vastly extended competitive and co-operative multiplayer components." Teams, drivers and tracks will naturally be updated to reflect the 2011 season, including races at Delhi's Jaypee International Race Circuit and Germany's Nürburgring.

Codemasters is also running a contest offering the chance to visit visit Birmingham and play the game. All you have to do is ask a question for its video Q&A series. "Will this have as many problems as F1 2010 did at launch?" probably won't endear you to Codies, though.

Today's announcement dated F1 2011's PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 editions for September 23, though this is a Friday--suggesting it is in fact the UK date. F1 games are traditionally released in North America on the preceding Tuesday, which would be September 20. Release dates for the handheld editions will be announced later.