Having spent my youth reading car magazines, playing top trumps, watching motorsport and generally trying to visit as many car shows with my Dad as possible, you tend to build up a knowledge of what works well in a car, and what doesn’t. The poster car on my bedroom wall was always the Ferrari F40 (it still is!), and seeing one just after launch in Italy cemented the fact that one day I would love to own something that has history, a racing pedigree and was genuinely unique in the car world.

Step forward a few years, and the release of the little Lotus Elise brought about a car that grabbed a driving philosophy by the horns, light and uncompromising in its aim, but one that also made it available to the ordinary enthusiast. It was from then on an ownership goal that I wanted to achieve so when I look back at my motoring history, it would sit pride of place.

Every time the garage door rises open, with a slow reveal of what I’m about to drive, it will never fail to put a smile on my face

And finally, after many years of toiling, I managed to achieve the dream 18 months ago. Circumstances allowed me to browse the classifieds, decide on a model that I thought was a little bit special compared to the rest (who doesn’t like a bit of aero?) and enjoy the pleasure of that driving philosophy for myself. Every time the garage door rises open, with a slow reveal of what I’m about to drive, it will never fail to put a smile on my face just like the kid who once saw that F40 all those years ago.

This is My Lotus.