Rally Evolved is a significant update to the series. A notable change is the "random event" engine in the game, which creates random hazards which the player must navigate as they drive the course. These random events can be anything from rockfalls from cliffs above, animals on the track or even rivers or pipes spilling water on the road surface, making it slippery. However, some random events are an advantage to the player - other drivers are on the course, and the player can pass them. Also, the co-driver keeps players updated on other cars, and occasionally other cars crash and retire from the rally. WRC: Rally Evolved also features new sets of cars, including "Historic" vehicles, essentially the highly tuned Group B rally cars including the Ford RS200, the Renault 5 Turbo and the Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 E2. In a quick race, the player will play a randomly selected stage with a randomly selected car and driver. During the race, the player will have to beat a time trial. The time target will be the in-game time at the first attempt. If beaten, the time target will be the personal best with a specific car class. The Championship mode lets the player play through the 2005 WRC season. The player can choose between a real life calendar, that follows the schedule for the 2005 WRC season, or a non-real life calendar, where the player can choose the countries to play in a wanted order. Championship mode ends when all 16 countries are played, but the player can stop playing after any country, because the game saves after each country is finished. The player can play all three stages in a country, but normally the player will have to buy the stage to play it in other modes. In a single rally, the player will play all the three stages in a selected country. Unlike the quick race, in a single stage the player will play one stage of own choice. The player can also select car and driver. In rally cross, the player will play against three AI generated opponents in a SSX course from any of the countries. The goal is to finish first in a circular track with all classes of cars. In historical challenge, the player has to race on a small part of a stage to beat a specific time. The player will have to choose between six cars and race first for bronze, then silver and gold.
