As such, we are here on a country road in Sussex, rather than the pit lane at Goodwood. It’s a brisk October morning, the road is damp and shadowed by a canopy of copper and gold leaves. The sun does its best to break up the heavy cloud as we listen to the off-beat rhythm of the flat-four motor. The high revving nature is immediately apparent when it comes ‘on cam’, the off-beat thump becoming smooth and crisp. You have to take it above 4500 RPM to get the full effect. Generating 140bhp and 9000 RPM redline, along with the exquisite handling, is what allowed Dooley to stay in front of the Metros.

Petrolicious

Photos by Piers Hulford