Driving around Tokyo is daunting. With no centre or suburbs, its road network is huge, spiralling, occasionally latticed and sometimes subterranean. At times, even Mr Roboto in the satnav gives up and shrugs directions your way. Which has happened. Meaning I’m lost while leading Mick Schumacher (behind the wheel of a stunning Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II) through Japan’s neon-lined labyrinth.
It’s a hot, humid evening and Mercedes F1’s reserve driver (and son of iconic seven time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher) is cutting the perfect shape of a Nineties boyband member. Where I’m perspiring like a burst pipe, he palms back his blonde curls and looks effortlessly cool in his loose fitting, oversized Tommy Hilfiger contractual clobber. Sartorially, it couldn’t be more of a perfect fit for the car he’s driving.
Born out of German touring cars, the Evo II is a deeply lustworthy, boxy and bewinged sports saloon. With a revvy, induction-tastic 232bhp four-cylinder engine mated to a dog leg close-ratio five-speed manual, rear-wheel drive and aero appendages that get petrolheads salivating, it’s a proper tip one’s hat ‘if you know,
