7:21 pm, August 20, 2013
THE inevitable text came. The iPhone’s text chime booms through the Audi’s cabin. ‘Where are you?’ it reads. It’s Max the photographer and we’re at least 10 miles away.
We’re blasting through South Wales’ stunning countryside on our way to the Brecons to meet up with Max to bag some tasty shots for the magazine.
For this year’s Road Test of the Year, we’re using a location that’s very much a favourite of ours. The last time we graced this gravel car park, we were scrabbling around for grip in a snowstorm for our roadsters issue last year.
18 months on and we’ve been blessed with some glorious weather.
But while the sun was doing its best to keep out of wispy clouds, Max, bless him, has suffered for his art. In taking the cover shot and opening spread picture, he jumped down off the roof of his Seat Leon and landed a little wrongly, injuring his leg. So today we’ve been working with a snapper with a limp.
In between shooting the cars, the team has had the opportunity to test each car out. And the consensus is 2013 is the hardest year to judge the overall winner.
Oh there are those trumping the F-Type’s card, while others are standing up for the Cayman S. The Fiesta ST is getting some winning praise too – and the M6, the RS6 and of course the Range Rover Sport. The Bentley – thanks to being left-hand drive – is the car most people are staying away from at the moment, but this is sure to change soon.
Tomorrow we’re concentrating on some filming so you can hear and see just how these glorious cars are performing. Check back tomorrow.
Are you following the team on Twitter? Click these links to see what we’re saying: James Baggott, editor Batch, staff writers Sophie and Jon, head of video Nigel, AOL Cars news editor Leon, motors.co.uk writer DJ, and Car Dealer’s ad manager Duncan.
