Author
Richard Meaden
A motoring journalist and racer for over 20 years, Dickie is one of the founder members of the evo team, a former editor, and current columnist.
He made his race debut in 1993, and since then has raced in various one-make series with Ginetta, Vauxhall, Renault and Porsche, and has competed in the Nürburgring 24 Hours since 2006.
In 2007 and 2008 Dickie competed in Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and in 2011 set a new world record for a production sedan at Bonneville Speed Week… in Skoda Octavia vRS. The speed? 227.08 mph. Yes, honestly.
'The thought that I could well have been to my last Geneva motor show is decidedly sad'
Opinion
'The thought that I could well have been to my last Geneva motor show is decidedly sad'
The car world will be a less colourful place if motor shows are driven to extinction
9 Sep 2020
Behind the wheel of a Porsche 917
Porsche
Behind the wheel of a Porsche 917
Porsche’s 917 is 50. To mark the occasion, we look back at its spectacular racing career and get behind the wheel of a freshly restored example
22 Aug 2020
'The world doesn't need this many supercars'
Opinion
'The world doesn't need this many supercars'
Covid-19 is a wake-up call for certain car makers and their business models
4 Aug 2020
Driving a Ferrari 488 GT3 – Richard Meaden drives the racer that inspires the road cars
Ferrari 488 Pista
Driving a Ferrari 488 GT3 – Richard Meaden drives the racer that inspires the road cars
Wonder how much of a race car finds itself inside hardcore roadcars? We found out with Ferrari’s 488 GT3
2 Aug 2020
Ferrari SF90 Stradale 2020 review – driving the game-changing 987bhp hybrid flagship
Ferrari SF90 Stradale
Ferrari SF90 Stradale 2020 review – driving the game-changing 987bhp hybrid flagship
LaFerrari pace and tech for a third of the price
16 Jul 2020
Porsche 911 Carrera S vs rivals: R8, Vantage, 570GT and Evora face off
Porsche
Porsche 911 Carrera S vs rivals: R8, Vantage, 570GT and Evora face off
The question is simple. Does the 992-generation 911 Carrera S still have the edge on its core rivals?
11 Jul 2020
'Driving a new Ferrari on those glorious roads was to feel like we had been given the keys to a kingdom'
Opinion
'Driving a new Ferrari on those glorious roads was to feel like we had been given the keys to a kingdom'
Our passion for the thrill of driving owes so much to the thrill of Italy
7 Jul 2020
'Some famous names are deadly serious about e-sports and have spent a bomb on a new home racing simulator'
Opinion
'Some famous names are deadly serious about e-sports and have spent a bomb on a new home racing simulator'
Lockdown reminds us how good it feels to get in a car - real or otherwise
9 Jun 2020
Aston Martin Vantage V600 review – £1.2m Aston on the limit
Reviews
Aston Martin Vantage V600 review – £1.2m Aston on the limit
The one-of-seven Vantage V600 has the GT12’s 592bhp V12 engine, a manual gearbox and costs a cool £1.2million. Is it money well spent?
22 May 2020
Meaden’s love for the Subaru Impreza always leads back to those early Turbos
Opinion
Meaden’s love for the Subaru Impreza always leads back to those early Turbos
'With all-wheel drive and a price tag of just under £18,000, it was an Integrale Evo II for the common man'
13 May 2020
Car auction sites have rekindled Meaden's desire for the attainable
opinion
Car auction sites have rekindled Meaden's desire for the attainable
I'm going to wean myself off the glamour and glitz and reconnect with stuff that's good for the soul
14 Apr 2020
'Why roofless collectables tarnish the image of the cars that inspired them'
opinion
'Why roofless collectables tarnish the image of the cars that inspired them'
I cannot conceive of any moment where you wouldn't look like a complete pillock in any of them
17 Mar 2020
'Who wouldn't want Ferrari to build something akin to a slightly scaled-up Alpine A110?'
Supercars
'Who wouldn't want Ferrari to build something akin to a slightly scaled-up Alpine A110?'
Meaden feels the big boys should look to bike manufacturers for some 'less is more' inspiration
4 Feb 2020
Bugatti Chiron review
Bugatti Chiron coupe
Bugatti Chiron review
Chiron sets a new benchmark for performance, capability and technology. Crucially it now adds driving enjoyment and engagement to the mix
9 Jan 2020
'Top speed may ultimately be pointless, but it’s still fun chasing that childhood rush'
Skoda Octavia vRS
'Top speed may ultimately be pointless, but it’s still fun chasing that childhood rush'
Doing the best part of 230mph in a Skoda Octavia vRS was strangely undramatic
7 Jan 2020
'The new Trophy-R deserves to be celebrated, however much it costs'
Renault Megane RS
'The new Trophy-R deserves to be celebrated, however much it costs'
Why am I smitten? Because it's a car conceived and created by engineers and racers
28 Nov 2019
Porsche 911 GT3 vs GT3 RS vs GT2 RS - track battle
Porsche 911
Porsche 911 GT3 vs GT3 RS vs GT2 RS - track battle
Porsche’s GT3, GT3 RS and GT2 RS are the most hardcore of the 911 breed, but pitched head‑to‑head which will we crown champion?
15 Nov 2019
'They may impress in some ways, but electric cars mostly leave Meaden cold'
Electric cars
'They may impress in some ways, but electric cars mostly leave Meaden cold'
Put simply, EVs don't live and breathe or require much in the way of effort or connection
30 Oct 2019
Porsche 919 Hybrid review - driving one of Stuttgart's most successful racers
Porsche 911
Porsche 919 Hybrid review - driving one of Stuttgart's most successful racers
Porsche’s 919 Hybrid is one of the most successful endurance racers of modern times. But what’s it like to drive – properly? We get the once-in-a-life…
18 Oct 2019
2019 Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake review
Aston Martin Vanquish
2019 Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake review
Extrovert, extravagant and extraordinary to drive, this might just be the world’s ultimate estate car
16 Oct 2019
'Hypercars at Le Mans will look magnificent, but how genuine will the racing be?'
Aston Martin
'Hypercars at Le Mans will look magnificent, but how genuine will the racing be?'
Far from being a gloves-off clash of the titans, the new Hypercar class will also be a battle of Balance of Performance
2 Oct 2019
Miltek Volkswagen Up GTI review
Reviews
Miltek Volkswagen Up GTI review
VW’s Up GTI is already a favourite of ours. Can Milltek’s upgrades improve it further?
16 Sep 2019
'A classic British (and Italian) job will always be Meaden’s kind of Mini adventure'
Opinion
'A classic British (and Italian) job will always be Meaden’s kind of Mini adventure'
The Mini's handling and the sheer tenacity of its road-holding were revelatory
27 Aug 2019
'Porsche 911s are now some kind of genetic throwback'
Opinion
'Porsche 911s are now some kind of genetic throwback'
Sadly, the submissive new 911 now sits dutifully in the shadow of Porsche’s money-spinners
23 Jul 2019