The Radical SR3 SL on public roads

There is a clutch to worry about, but you only need it for pulling away, and once past that, you just tug paddles to change gear - and with a 0.08sec shift time, it's as snappy as a DSG. Accelerate with your right, brake with your left, flick with your fingers, steer with your wrists, wipe visor with your palm - that's about all there is to this car.

Once you become more accustomed to it, you get the feeling the Radical is actually dancing down the road rather than acting the bucking bronco. The writhing steering starts to instil confidence, the traction is remarkable (considering there's barely a millimetre of suspension travel), you discover you can be braver, as long as you keep your inputs small, neat and accurate. Tricky, when you're shivering like a jackhammer.

So it is intimidating, but it's also far more manageable than before - treat it with respect, and you and the SR3 SL will get on just fine. But not in winter. That'd be absurd.

The numbers
1999cc, 4cyl RWD, 240bhp, 265lb ft, 28.0mpg, 229g/km CO2, 0-62 in 3.4secs, 161mph, 725kg

The cost
£69,850 plus £4,000 for the race pack

The verdict
The most drivable Radical ever. Which isn't saying much. Addictive, threatening and entirely unsuited to winter. We love it