All right, five and a bit thousand miles on (about two and a half with the extra Mountune-sponsored urge) and I’m still making up reasons to go for a strop in our long-term Focus ST. I must be smitten because, what with the ST being so uninhibited in its fondness for super unleaded – not compulsory, but the higher octane does make a difference – the habit has a noticeable financial dimension.

Since the Mountune upgrade the average has fallen from just over 25mpg to around 24-and-a-half. Given the significant hike in power and torque that’s not such a terrible slip, I suppose, and the performance-to-consumption ratio has actually improved.

Anyway, it’s worth it. I still find myself being surprised and thrilled at the way the ST hurls itself down the road when the turbo-gauge needle buries itself in the red zone, especially in the higher gears. In fact, the way the bonnet rears up by a couple of inches with each wave of torque is mildly comical and probably massages the impression of accelerative violence.

The truth of the matter will be revealed when we book an appointment with Millbrook and our VBOX. I’m sure Mr Tomalin will turn up in his shiny new long-term Focus RS, too. Do I fancy the ST’s chances? Having driven the RS for last month’s ‘How fast?’ exercise, not much. The Mountune ST simply doesn’t feel quite as quick. But then the RS does have a much more aggressive throttle map and, as a result, feels more responsive for a smaller throttle input, especially over the first inch or so of its travel. There, that’s got him worried.