The Caterham 170 S is a car you’ll feel connected with even when travelling in a straight line. Unlike other cars which now use technology to minimise driver fatigue and input, the Caterham 170S is all about keeping you busy – whether it’s flicking a switch for the wipers, pulling a plunger for the header – or simply keeping control of its super-quick steering rack.

If you do like being in control of a car, the 170R couldn’t give you a purer experience. It’s the bottom rung of the accessible performance ladder, so regardless of your driving ability, it’s very hard not to have fun in this thing. In fact, it may be impossible.

I like a narrow-bodied Seven – it feels in keeping with the lightweighting ethos. An optional lowered floor makes the driving position low-slung and snug in the composite seats, and with harnesses too it feels much more serious from inside than the power output and wheel size would have you believe.