“It’s a 650bhp 3.9-litre V12, and completely new. Even compared with the Valkyrie motor I wanted it to be the highest revving, so it will go beyond 12,000rpm and with conventional valve springs. The F1 was the first road car with no flywheel; this is the same. You have a plate to react to the clutch loads, but it’s not doing much. Boy, has Cosworth done a fantastic job. I can safely state that this is probably the last great, all-new, naturally aspirated V12 you’ll see.

“The gearbox is a six-speed manual. It was going to be a paddleshift at the start – I thought there’s probably not many people left who would want a manual, but actually a lot of the buyers for the T50 drive old manual Porsches at the weekend. I’m doing it just like we did on the F1, so there’s five close ratios and an overdrive sixth. Put it in sixth and the fuel consumption, the noise – everything – comes way down.”

Picture: Andrei Avarvari for Top Gear