The deal: obtain a car worth no more than £100, and drive it from England to Naples in Italy via the Swiss Alps. The team: “The Onion Bhajis” – Neil Mukerji, Robin Willis, a Tom Tom Go and this £50 Sierra.

Leaving Woking at around 2pm on Thursday afternoon, we set off to Dover in good spirits.

Upon arriving at Dover, it rapidly became apparent that the 17:30 Sea Cat was just going to be full of crap cars…

Around 20 or so delights were there! At loading time, with a backfire and a cheer from the crowd, the Sierra started and keenly wobbled its way onto the Sea Cat.

Hot off the boat in Calais, we held on as the Sierra displayed its complete inability to hold the road all the way to our meeting point near City d’Europe where we registered for the four official days of the event that lay ahead. That done, we returned to our £28 hotel room. Bargain. Outside the hotel, it was apparent that a few others were also staying there.