Brooke 260 Double R

The days are getting warmer, summer is almost here - and Brooke Cars has timed the arrival of its new Double R to perfection. As weekend and trackday motors across the country awake from a winter of hibernation, Auto Express clambered aboard the tiny Devon firm's first two-seater.

Brooke may be an unfamiliar name, but the Double R's engine is no stranger. The 2.3-litre Cosworth-built Ford Duratec unit also powers Caterham's CSR and it's assembled by the same technicians responsible for Williams' F1 powerplants. Here, it's mounted behind the cabin in the tubular steel spaceframe chassis.

Climb aboard and you sit low behind a small screen, with your legs angled towards the centre of the car. There's an adjustable pedal box so tall drivers can get comfortable, and an optional higher windscreen to reduce buffeting - but there's no roof.

Travelling with another occupant is a cosy yet draughty experience, and because the stubby gearlever is on the driver's right, you'll sit close enough to each other to rub shoulders.

The steering is as direct as a race car's, but at low speeds it's heavy and the poor lock makes low-speed manoeuvring a muscle-building exercise. Fitting a bigger steering wheel would help, and there is room for one if buyers choose, although trackday fans will love the tiny suede item in our test car. The stylish composite body, meanwhile, turns lots of heads, and also helps to keep weight down, with the Double R tipping the scales at just 550kg.

That guarantees blistering performance, and covering 0-60mph takes only 3.1 seconds. What's more, with an impressive 271Nm of torque on hand, there's no need to work the engine hard to make fast progress, as the flexible unit pulls strongly from low revs.

With a Quaife limited-slip differential, supple all-round independent suspension and wide tyres, putting the power down is easy. In the dry, at least, grip is seemingly limitless. Its addictive performance, great handling and rarity make the Brooke an unconventional yet appealing choice.