We arrive in the Eiffel mountains well after dark and head straight for some food, a few beers and a chat with some English chaps who have been racing in the day's classic race. We retire at a reasonable time to be in as good a mindset as possible for the next day. As you can imagine, with one of the greatest sports cars on sale at our disposal and the greatest bit of tarmac on the planet just a short drive away, sleep does not come easily.
As I draw back my covers in the morning, the region's legendary mist is upon us. I can only hope that the day's first activity has not been scuppered by this unwelcome, if picturesque, visitor. It's early; we have some photography to do; and I can only wait to see if the Nurburgring will be open for play today. The general opinion is that the weather may mean the track will be closed, but we drive down to the track anyway and are greeted by a packed paddock/parking area.
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| Despite a cautious drive, the Porsche still handles fabulously |
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The track opens at 10am, the mist being deemed sufficiently dissipated to be safe. A steady stream of very serious sports cars makes its way out into the green, foggy, hell. Discretion being the better part of valour I let them get on with it. The chances of someone getting carried away and coming unstuck are fairly high, but after 20 mins it would seem that the moment has arrived for a brief taster of Porsche's masterpiece on the track it was honed upon.
This being a rented car, circumspection is the order of the day. Just being here in this calibre of car is worth the journey alone and even if it's only to drive at six-tenths. The setting is truly wonderful and when not trying so hard you really appreciate the environment and the commitment of the other drivers. Though the Carrera is only really jogging along, its fabulous handling, that barking engine and inch-perfect controls are tempting me to up the ante - but not today, not in this car. When the current production car record holder, the EDO-Porsche GT2R rumbles into the car park, it's my cue to move on. Next stop the Rhine valley.
It's well past midday by the time I turn off the autobahn after a further session of rapid transit, and literally dive into the valley just south of Koblenz. The mirror-like B260 follows the river as it meanders south. This route leads us through countless chocolate-box villages, each with a Gothic church or tower.
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| It's tempting to up the ante |
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After pulling over Nievern for some lunch, we head back out along the Rhine, relaxing before the final task of this trip. We've been to the driving Mecca, we seen a little culture, now it's time to reproduce that road-testing classic; driving as fast as possible on the road.
