The French Connection

...The enthusiasm of the man is unstoppable, enough to carry even the most jaded petrol head away.

Renault? This boils down to Alan's early rallying days. "Everyone was using Escorts. I wanted to be different and I've always liked the min-engine 5 turbo. His invitation to 'hop in' is accepted without hesitation; it's only within a flash when we are sliding sideways that I wonder what on earth am I doing in a rally car, with a car nut at the wheel, without making my will.

Actually, Alan drove sedately up the road; it was only once we went off track, that all hell was let loose. A 90 degree bend approaches and one's right foot presses involuntarily into the passenger footwell and you start to pray that he, someone, anyone will BRAKE! Then Alan pulls the handbrake, the car power slides 180 degrees and we'll off back the way we came.

Truly nothing to worry about with a highly skilled rally car driver. Just another day for Alan and his box of french toys.