I’m going to be a racing driver. It’s been my dream job since I was knee-high, when Schumacher was in a Benetton and Sierras were still in Touring Cars. Fast forward two decades and I’m clutching my freshly delivered National B race licence, just three weeks away from my debut drive in the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup.

I’ll be driving a Nissan 370Z; the same car you can also race with Dunlop thanks to our spiffing trackday competition. I’m just warming it up for the winner, see.

My journey from motorsport novice to Snetterton on May 9 is a colossally exciting one. The first step was applying for my MSA Go Racing pack, studying race rules and flags, and then booking myself in for an ARDS test. The lovely people at MSV coincided my exams with a day of track training (conveniently at Snett), where me and my trusty Clio 200 Cup long-termer discovered, practiced and (sort of, nearly) mastered the art of trail braking and navigating the track bravely and quickly.

The Renault and I have been on a few trackdays now, but stepping up to race pace was a real journey of discovery: growing bigger balls and vastly improving my technique the main points to work on. Big thanks to James Auld, ex-racer, professional instructor and patient bugger who helped me on my way.

So ARDS test passed, licence acquired. Next stop, the Porsche Human Performance Centre to see just how unfit I am and how I can train myself fitter. Report (and opportunity to laugh) here soon…