It was my first track outing with the Clio and Anglesey confirmed some of the things I'd discovered on the road. The Clio has masses of grip and never feels wayward if you're committed to your chosen line. It's still got a bit of a sting in its tail if you back off sharply in fast corners, but you'd have to go truly mad to get into trouble on a dry track.

Minus points are a slightly baulky gearshift when extended to the red line, an annoyingly high driving position and steering which isn't the last word in feedback. Of these, it's the driving position that really grates. It can't be that hard to get right, can it?

The long drive to Wales and subsequent mileage has helped loosen up the engine further but it still feels a bit tight. I expect the next thousand miles will make a big difference. It's no slouch, though. Even the Honda needed a long straight to pull out a discernible advantage. Who needs 197bhp, eh?