An MX-5 owner, he was stunned at how low you sit in an Elise, and wasn't impressed that a 28-grand sports car should be so barren inside, or that it should be such a pantomime to get into, or that the seats should be so sparsely padded.

But then we got going. Conditions were perfect - zero traffic, dry roads. Bends with enough visibility to get the tyres and suspension fully loaded, straights long and clear enough to wring the K-series round to the change-up light. The triple-one felt in the groove, I felt in the groove, brother-in-law understood what the groove was all about; he never spoke, but I could tell from his expression. It really is alright, you know.