Page 79 - Cool Britannia

It was around midday, so still light, when Troels said “take the Orange car out and play”. I didn’t need to be asked twice. It was still snowing when I took to the circuit, getting a feel for this 1100bhp monster. Using frst and second kept the revs up for the frst few laps of the winding track, whilst not really limiting the speed. Even on ice in falling snow, the ST1 had a tendency to under steer so the 1100bhp (although traction control and engine management would be clipping it back to a mere 5-600bhp) helped push the back end out to tighten the line. This was an impressive machine. The kit car I was expecting did not show up, this felt every bit a solid as any of my thorough breed supercars. Pushing harder and harder the electronics made this so drivable. Building up the lap speed and getting the fow of the circuit, the tractable engine, with it’s immense torque allowed second gear for most of the lap with a quick fip to third on the only reasonably straight bit. This was fun. As I pulled in where Nigel and some of the Zenvo boys were waiting in the 4x4’s I thought back to the YouTube clips of the car spinning on Top Gear? They were on tarmac…It was getting dark so went out to play some more, this was great chassis and I’m now used to it, the power delivery was quite spectacular. Even when I ran wide of the line into deep fresh snow, a bit of extra power would pull her right back on tack. I drove my R8 in snow once and even with it’s four wheel drive it wouldn’t held its own with the Zenvo. Heading out of the Handling Circuit and back toward our garages I can open her up on the straight road, although equally snow covered, as I feed in the power I can feel the backend squirming a little, but clever traction control keeps it in check and quick 100mph is easily achieved, as I swing back into the garage and roller doors come down, I park next to the TSR that’s just returned from another session of testing. I love this car and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the Yellow racer.79