Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster

This might look like the same Roadster we first saw in 2006, but don’t be fooled: its chassis, engine and transmission have been heavily revised. It’s the 4.7-litre V8 that dominates your thoughts as you slot the lovely crystal-look key into the dash and the 420bhp unit barks into life. On the move, it provides an amazing soundtrack, bellowing and crackling with each prod of the throttle. There’s a decent turn of speed, too, with the Roadster lapping the track in exactly the same time as the less laid back Mitsubishi Evo.

And despite its drop-top bodyshell, the Vantage is surprisingly stiff. Strong front grip, direct steering and a near perfect weight distribution help make it balanced and friendly when you push hard.

But there’s an old-fashioned feel to the Aston that detracts from the fun. The controls are heavy – in particular the clunky gearchange – and it lacks the finesse of a Porsche. There’s no doubting its raw talent, but the Vantage’s driving dynamics aren’t totally polished - it took a few laps before we had complete confidence in its abilities.

CLICK HERE FOR AN EXCLUSIVE ON BOARD HOT-LAP IN THE ASTON MARTIN V8 VANTAGE ROADSTER