People approached me this morning:

"Enjoy that?"

"So?"

"What was it like?"

And with an inane grin on my face, I could only utter "amazing".

Regaining my composure but unable to wipe the grin from my face I came to the conclusion that perhaps you can have too much power  in a car.

Over 500 horses to play with in a lightweight chariot with huge wheels. I was Ben Hur today. I was  at Mallory Park driving a Tyrell Formula One car.

Wet conditions forced a tyre change and then I clambered into the miniscule cockpit. Straps were tightened to wincing point and the engine was started for me.

A hand throttle was used to rev the engine for five minutes until it reached its operating temperature.

A couple of experiments with the very sharp clutch to find the biting point and then the car and I were rolled to the pit exit. Engage the dog leg first, clutch up, a ten thousand revs and away.

Hugging the inside of the track, I build up speed and change up through the gears as instructed. On the exit of Gerrards I'm slotting it into fifth gear and tentatively easing my right foot down.

No drama, no wheelspin, nice and steady but already I can feel the immense torque pushing me up the road despite being in fifth gear.

Still taking it easy, I head toward the braking point before the Esses.

The brakes are cold and wet and it takes a firm press to reduce speed. Through the Esses I begin to appreciate how sure footed the car is even on the sodden track.

Up to the hairpin. I've got to brake, drop three gears and then take the corner doubling back on myself. Braking... fifth to fourth...  fourth to third, engine snarling behind my head as I fail to match the revs, and down to second.

Easing it around the tight hairpin, I'm very aware of the big wheels turning from very little effort on the small wheel in my hands. I must remember the rear wheels are wider...

Out of the hairpin straightening up and easing the power down. Wrong! Wasn't quite straight. Back of the car kicks out... probably only inches, feels like feet as I hold the throttle and then feed it back in.

Third gear, fourth, should be in fifth as I turn down into Devils Elbow. Heading straight across the standing water and into fifth gear. Pushing the pedal further... further... so much travel. Wow! Faster... faster... and not only that I'm getting faster at a faster rate. The huge wall of power from behind me hurls me down the straight with my head being buffeted by the wind. The track feels bumpy. I'm doing over 130mph. It's wet. I   run out of bottle and I ease off, without having reached the floor with my right foot.

Braking hard now and around the wet bend in fifth, for another lap.

Seven laps later I coast into the pit lane absolutely elated. Yet, only twice had I managed to floor the throttle. The power available throughout the rev range was unbelievable. From slow to scary in seconds.

So what did I think, they all ask me?

All I could do was grin... "amazing".