Noble M400

(Photo: Lee Brimble)

WINNING THE SIR William Lyons award in 2005 was incredible, particularly the prospect of the opportunities it could bring. Having interviewed Lee Noble to win the award, I was offered the chance to drive Noble’s M400 demonstrator at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground. It took me almost a year, but in 2006 I finally got myself up to the firm’s headquarters in Barwell to face the 425bhp beast.

Peter Boutwood, Noble’s test driver, met me in the reception area and ushered me to the gleaming M400 parked outside. I hopped into the passenger seat and we drove off to the track, via Leicestershire’s maze of B-roads. The journey there was an experience in itself – I swear we caught air coming off a humpback bridge at one point.

We got talking about the rest of the supercar market. “Lee and I have just got back from the States where we were driving a Porsche Carrera GT, a Ferrari F40, an F50, an Enzo and a Ford GT”, said Peter. “What did you think of them?” I asked. He replied nonchalantly “Well, the Enzo was OK…I suppose.”

Once we got to Bruntingthorpe, I was given a quick reminder of the circuit – I took a Ferrari 355 Challenge around it in 2005 – and a flying lap to show me what the M400 was capable of before it was my turn. After a few laps, Peter said “Pull in over there and I’ll get out so you can go around on your own. Having me in the car probably cramps your style a bit.” I did a couple of solo laps and headed for the track’s magnificent two-mile stretch of runway.

Coming around the last corner before the back straight, I lined the car up with the horizon before me…and then planted my foot to the floor. The acceleration was mind-blowing. The car seared on at a terrifying rate, as everything to my left and right became an instant blur.

The fourth and fifth gears were over and done with in a matter of seconds as I shifted into sixth, speeding past 140mph. The rough tarmac began to send vibrations through the M400’s chassis, but I wasn’t ready to lift off the power just yet. I went past 150 and 160mph, but rapidly running out of airstrip with the needle at a hairsbreadth under 170, I decided enough was enough and came off the throttle.

The experience was nothing short of life-defining and is no doubt something I won’t be doing again for a long time.