Features

I'm ashamed to admit that I hadn't visited Aston Martin since its new Gaydon factory (or 'facility', as I believe these things are now called) was completed. As a veteran of many visits to the old Newport Pagnell site, I was in for a shock.

It's all terribly smart. 'By appointment to HRH the Prince of Wales,' proclaims a plaque on the wall just outside VIP reception, 'motor car manufacturer and repairer.' I sensed that the legend 'and repairer' had been added later, perhaps in the light of recent unfortunate events.

The giant glass doors to the centre's atrium-like display area swung open automatically, leaving me to enter with my astonished arm still outstretched.

"Welcome to Aston Martin," said someone hundreds of yards away. I took a seat near the line-up of new V8s and, unbidden, a silent and spectral man in a suit brought me tea in a pot. I poured it as reverentially as I could, but the milk jug still made an appalling clatter on the glass-topped table and ruined everything.

This was different. But some things are still the same. There has been another change of ownership - that's all part of being Aston Martin - and, since Aston is a marque old enough to have proved its worth in real racing, there is a new racing car, the V8 Vantage-based N24. I had come to try it out.

Racing is not my sort of thing, to be honest, which is why I eschewed the little-used Nomex and booties that lie in the bottom of my hall cupboard somewhere and turned up in uncompetitive knitwear - a sort of Le Cock Unsportif ensemble.

But I had to admit that the N24 - for Nurburgring 24-hours - looked rather excellent, especially in this yellow, and with its over-large Sportline alloys. The stickers are not obligatory, by the way.

The car has been designed for track-day enthusiasts and for endurance racing at the 'Ring, but will also be eligible for the GT4 racing series, where it will be up against 911s and lightweight Lambos.