Photos

I am Jason Bourne. I am Bullitt. I am in the middle of a real-life Hollywood car chase. I am terrified.

On a sultry, sweaty autumn afternoon, TopGear is flying through the jam-packed streets of Rome, pursued at close quarters by a navy Lotus Evora S in full carabinieri livery, its blue lights flashing manically as it darts in and out of our rear mirror.

Scooters swerve into the kerb, and Smart cars dive for cover as we blast along Rome's cobbled roads, past ancient arches and crumbling viaducts.

Words: Sam Philip
Pictures: James Arbuckle

This feature first appeared in the December issue of Top Gear magazine