Jeremy  With new Minis being launched all the time, the appeal of the GP may have been a little diluted. I say that because every time I stop at a filling station or car park, nobody seems to register what a special little car this is.

Today, a couple of ‘yoofs’ in a Vauxhall Astra managed to string a sentence together and ask me what I was driving. They thought it was a model I had ‘created’ myself – adding the roof spoiler and red detailing in a mid-life crisis.

One feature I couldn’t have added myself is the ‘Sport’ button, discreetly tucked away in front of the gearstick. Of course, a button like that has to be pressed and the result is a swifter response from the accelerator and slightly stiffer power steering – ideal for track days but not much use on Bank Holiday roads.

On the few occasions I have been able to escape the rest of Bank Holiday Britain, the GP has been tremendous fun. When pushed hard, the car has a tendency to scrabble for grip as you change up through the gears. Traction control then cuts in and automatically reduces engine power. To overcome this, Mini has fitted a “GP Mode’ switch which eliminates the problem and gives a much smoother ride.

It’s taken five five days to get to grips with the 215bhp of power from the 1.6 turbo engine but now I’m really starting to enjoy myself….