It's now three weeks and 1600 miles later and the Evo and I have settled into some kind of groove. Ralliart created the RS Sprint as a track day tool, so although it looks like a practical saloon, it's easier to get along with if you think of it as a four-dour Caterham. It's more basic than the regular Evo but it's not stripped out ΂- it still has a decent stereo, a Momo wheel and a fantastic pair of Recaro bucket seats. I'll probably wish for air conditioning come the Summer but I'm getting on fine with wind-up windows and manual mirrors.

The idea that you're driving a car designed for track work is reinforced every morning because it takes a while to get its 4WD transmission up to temperature. Reversing down the slope from my driveway I can feel the drag of all those cold gears and oils ΂- it's as if the handbrake is still on a notch or two ΂- and for the first few miles the gearshift is rather crunchy unless you're very gentle with it. Once it starts to snick around easily, you can be certain the engine is fully warmed through and the Evo is ready to go.

I don't think I'll ever get blas΃© about the performance. Every time this 320bhp motor hits full boost it's a hardcore buzz, and there's a massive temptation to just keep snapping through the gears. In fact, it takes real effort to drive anywhere at anything less than flat-out. Three things help you to rein-in your enthusiasm ΂- the ride, which is still very firm well into three figures; the risk to your licence; and the sight of the fuel gauge showing zero after just 150 miles. This means that the Evo and XJR-R do have something in common after all ΂- thirst.