That’s how the old local radio advert went, wasn’t it? Anyway.

Any time spent at Thruxton, in my experience, is time well spent. As well as spectating there, I did a driving experience there a few years ago. Too long ago, indeed, which is why I did another one today.

I’d say it’s money well spent, but in truth it’s bloody expensive. Today’s shenanigans were, in true rock ‘n’ roll fashion, financed by Tesco Clubcard points; and the time previous, I had a gift voucher. Under those circumstances, it’s excellent value.

So it was that in the pouring rain I was driven around the circuit with a couple of other guys in a Mazda3 MPS, before being put behind the wheel of a Porsche Cayman. Which was, you know, nice. I’m no motoring journalist, clearly.

Not like TV’s own Tiff Needell, off the telly. He’s now resident at Thruxton, offering five laps of the circuit in a BMW M3 for £125. Yes, £125. Needless to say (weak pun intended), I didn’t bother. I mean, it looked like a lot of fun when he overtook me sideways, but £125? Nah. Though it was highly amusing to see him bombastically shouting about the wet conditions, and how that makes his experience even better. He clearly has no problem assuming the role of shameless salesman.

That was in stark contrast to the regular instructors, who were very humble. Amongst their number were Duncan Tappy, who is racing internationally in Superleague Formula; and BTCC frontrunner Tom Onslow-Cole. Indeed, The OC seemed utterly thrown when I knew who he was, as he guided me over to the supercar area.

Where I got what I had been waiting for: the Ferrari California. The circuit was drying, and it was an absolute treat to get progressively less bad at driving the thing lap after lap. Power, balance, cornering – all that good stuff was utterly effortless. Especially compared to the Ferrari F355 I drove last time, which was a mechanical beast to drive. But still fun, obviously.

Finally I went out in the Formula Renault, on a virtually dry track. It was my second go in a single seater, and a great deal of fun – although not as revolutionary as the first; it really is quite unlike anything else, and a true experience. Even my girlfriend sort of enjoyed it, even if she was petrified before she got in.

I thought I’d had bad luck with the weather, considering how dry it’s been recently. But when the heavens absolutely opened on the way home, I counted myself lucky that I wasn’t still out on track. That would not have been fun, even with Tiff Needell at the wheel.