THE BENDS arrive as quickly as they are sharp, a seemingly never ending series of left-right-left corners. Yet despite the constant changes in direction plus the terrible conditions that offer less grip than a pair of Crocs would in snow, the wide rubber plus extreme aero package help keep the car feel cool, calm and collected.
Not that I can say the same about me. Because to make it even more tricky, on either side is a rock wall that looks even less welcoming than a bank manager. One wrong move and I’d remove the nose like a piece of cheese on a grater.
A short straight section allows me to briefly bury the throttle and even though I’m using only a fraction of the engine’s massive power, the forcefulness of the acceleration still comes as a surprise especially in these tight and restrictive surroundings. A quick of dab on the brake pedal before changing down to third prepares me for the next challenge.
Regardless of what it sounds like, this isn’t a hill climb like Goodwood or Shelsley Walsh but the humble B3135 in Somerset. But with a three mile section running through the world-famous Cheddar Gorge it is one of the most challenging yet enjoyable roads in the country.
And neither is this a racing car but the final interpretation of the Jaguar’s once
