First up was the evoactive event at Donington at the end of July. In preparation, I had the original A038 tyres put back on, even though they'd already covered 8000 miles, as there was plenty of life left in them. The 340 made it there, complete with passenger and various items of associated luggage - race suits, helmets, etc - which really is an achievement in a 340R (even a Caterham has a boot). Then, after a hard but glitch-free day being hoofed round Donington by all and sundry, the 340R and John Hayman headed off for the Bedford Autodrome to help out with a shoot for a future issue.

Disaster struck on one of Bedfordshire's country lanes as Hayman hit an invisible bump. Crash! Oh dear, that felt bad. And what's that rattle?

That rattle turned out to be the whole of the near-side rear-light cluster, which was now no longer connected to the chassis but dangling free, only clinging on by its exposed wires. If, as we have now experienced, a rear wheel uses up all of its suspension travel, the mudguard can clout the light cluster, causing it to shear it off. So it was cable ties to the rescue.

While Lotus technicians scratched their heads about what to do with the snapped light cluster, wondering whether it could simply be glued back in position, it was evoactive time again, and this time we were off to Silverstone.

The extra toe-in added to the rear has really made the 340 turn in better. Dickie M commented that it had 'never felt better'. John Hayman was muttering something about 'still a bit understeery' until it was pointed out that he had already managed one pirouette today and even less understeer would mean a lot more of the same.

It was all going too well, of course. Mid-afternoon and a 'burning plasticky' smell was wafting from somewhere behind our heads and getting stronger and stronger with each subsequent lap, followed shortly after by the illuminated battery warning light. We suspected a cooked and very dead alternator (another 340R owner at Silverstone told us he was on his fourth) so by close of play the battery was well and truly flat and the only way the 340R was getting home was on a trailer, again.