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The Grand Tour. Modern performance cars can be so fiendishly complicated that it takes time to really understand them. With so many chassis, engine and transmission settings, and even different modes for the steering and so on, you really need to cover serious distances in a car before you can hope to get properly beneath its skin.

This is a titanic battle between sports cars from two of the greatest icons of motorsport. McLaren may now be seen only as a Formula 1 contestant, but it started as a highly successful maker of sports racing cars dominating the Can-Am series between 1967 and 1971, with Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme sharing the honours. The team also competed in Formula 2 and Formula Libre.

Buying Guide It’s easy to let the heart rule the head when considering a Lotus Exige, but don’t buy one before reading our exhaustive 12-point guide  Twelve steps to buying a Lotus Exige Experts and owners reveal why you need this road-racer and how to bag a good one Words Malcolm McKay. Photography John Colley.

The Collector. ‘It has quite a colourful history – the Queen Mother used to own it’ Steve Harris takes us on a tour of a Canadian collection dominated by rare British cars from the Thirties and Forties – plus the occasional pick-up. Words Iain Ayre. Photography Monique Sache.

Life Cycle. How the last ever TVR 450 SEAC survived endless leaks and a close encounter with the River Thames – and was once repaired using a designer lipstick. The life story of a TVR 450 SEAC. Nearly lost in a river, ruled too noisy for track days and once mended using lipstick, the life of the final TVR wedge has been a colourful, thrilling adventure Words Sam Dawson. Photography James Pardon.

Epic Restoration. Munich Legends had just 12 weeks to get BMW UK’s M1 press car to Goodwood, despite having to tackle extensive rust and blown body panels.   ‘It looked so good that we wondered if anything needed doing to it. Then we unwrapped it…’ When BMW gave its M1 press demonstrator to Munich Legends for some restoration work it imposed a deadline of just three months. Impossible, or just improbable? Words Nigel Boothman. Photography Neil Fraser.