Turin- a testing time

Wow what a roller-coaster of a day we’ve had.
A very early start yet again – and more manic driving.
The scenery looks spectacular - but once again low cloud prevented us from seeing it too well. Although this is a perfect time of year to be here as the trees are fantastic colours.

However, scenery apart - the navigation is quite stressful - and to finish us off completely - we were very unlucky at the toll booth today.
Anxious to keep pace with the convoy, I told Paul to keep driving slowly through the ticket booth and I would grab a ticket. Unfortunately I didn’t quite reach – so missed it. Paul thought I had one – and carried on driving. I shouted for him to stop…I got out of the car ran back barefooted – but the following car [Italian] had taken my ticket and wouldn’t concede – so we had no ticket and no way of getting one….
Therefore on arrival at pay booth – no ticket meant a 70 euro charge!!! – Expensive missed ticket.

All of that left us a long way behind the rest of the cars – and not the best of roads to try and make up time – but make it up we did. The final few metres into the centre of Turin were manic - but we actually managed to get to the muster point in plenty of time. Then the fun really started.

The police escort arrived in the form of 6 motor bike outriders and at exactly 3pm we set off – as loudly as possible!
We quite literally stopped traffic and raced through the narrow streets – for what must have been miles until we had gone out of the city centre and reached the Lingotti roof top test track.
There was a slight delay before we could access the track – as there was a helicopter waiting to land!
Then we were off.

Paul drove us round the track twice…maybe it was because I was screaming that he went faster???
Then we stopped to change drivers….I bottled it! So Paul went round again…even faster while I tried to capture a photo of the action.

We are both on a real high – even though extremely tired as well. The main parts of the adventure are over as we begin to rally our way home – back into France tomorrow…but still time for more action I’m sure...and at least it will mean an end to 2 corses of pasta at every meal!!!!

**** sorry no photos - will try and add later