I was just reading an excellent interview with Tim Willits on EuroGamer and it gave me an idea to integrate the "driving element" inside the game.

Basically, I know that only 2 driving missions are required to finish Rage but I also hope that id also made cars have a bigger impact on the game besides these 2 races and using it traverse the Wasteland. An idea popped in my mind where it would be awesome to have like a Valley of Death (if you will) a place where only a heavily rigged up Buggy could have any chance of survival. This would of course add more weight and motivation to those gamers who want to focus more on the RPG/Upgrade and try to get every single enhancement for their buggy. This arc would of course be a side quest and help appeal to some of the RPG type of players while not interfering with the Soul of the game which is the FPS experience.

Some obstacles in this Valley of Death would be towers, sentries, mines, other buggies maybe even create a scenario where there is this one "Death Rider" guy who has the baddest car and reputation in the Wasteland--that even if you pass the sentries, towers and mines you *Never* get passed the "Death Rider". Mission could also have a payoff at the end if you were to complete it whether it's a new ammo or reputation when speaking with the NPCs after you have defeated the "Death Rider". Obviously, I have no idea what is in Rage currently for driving, I hope it integrates more into the Wasteland than just getting from point A to point B and letting you do more than shoot the occasional tower or random bandits and their buggies. Either way i'm not buying the game because of the driving, but i'm glad that mechanic is there and that could be fleshed out or complimented with any upcming DLC, mods or even the possible sequel.

10 more days, can't wait!

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-the-return-of-id-software?page=1

From what has been said there will be a vehicle combat arena/speedway that you can participate in as off missions where you are pitted against opponents. You compete for upgrades, money and better vehicles and I think one of the first vehicles you get in the game is out of that arena. They didn't give a definitive number on how many times you can go into this arena but I'm sure there will be many. From what they said at the Eurogamer Expo they are working on DLC for the game so who knows....maybe there will be more vehicle based things to do.

Edit: here is where I read it: http://www.giantbomb.com/rage/61-20672/rage-the-first-three-hours/35-508936/#156

Quote: "In addition to being a method of transportation, vehicles are also required should you want to engage in a race. A carnival barker in Wellspring hosts a number of tournaments, which can earn you everything from cold, hard cash to new vehicles and upgrades. These run the gamut from simple time trials to straight up combat races, with blow up or get blown up type rules."