The Noble M12 GTO is a low production car built in South Africa to the specifications of Brit Jim Noble, the designer of the formidable Ultima race car.

Although the test car was right hand drive which is always a bit disconcerting at first, I quickly caught on to the precise and perfectly damped steering, the outstanding mid corner balance of the car and the world class acceleration.

Power is delivered by a three litre Duratech engine with aid from twin Garrett T-28 Turbochargers which not only make gobs of power from way down low, but make the most sensational noise you’ll ever hear from the cockpit of any automobile.

Built light and very strong (including a four point roll cage) as was the Ultima, the fit and finish in the car is at least as good as anything we’ve seen for sale in the past twenty years and much, much better than the vast majority.

It’s a diminutive two seat coupe but there was plenty of room for my larger than average bulk. In fact I drove it pretty much all day and leapt out of the thing actually feeling invigorated rather than beat up. Certainly the car is stiffer than your average street car but not so stiff as to jar you and addle your brains.

Could you drive the thing to work and back every day? Not only could you, you’d do it willingly just to hear the thing run.

The Noble M12 GTO goes hard, stops fast and turns with the sure footed grace that cars triple its’ cost simply fail to do. It looks even better in person than it does in photos and turns more heads than a Ferrari Enzo. On a brief road drive in Port Elizabeth, South African locals cheered, offered thumbs up and several, including two rather tough looking police detectives followed me so that they could have a closer look. (I thought I was busted for speeding)

Having witnessed the entire construction process first hand in South Africa I can tell you unabashedly that not only is it built very strong it’s built very well by a group who are into building great cars.

The Noble M12 made its’ debut in the paddock at a few race events I attended last year and has already stirred up a lot of focused attention from the normally aloof racing community.

At the time I was very curious but did not sit behind the wheel. A pity really, because once I did I became and instant enthusiast.

Having put five or six hundred very hard miles on a Noble M12 GTO and having had time to reflect on that for a while and having spent twenty or thirty more hours reading a chatting about the car, I am ready.

Here goes. (and I don’t do this lightly) I declare the Noble M12 to be my Dream Car. I’m getting one.

Heck, I’ll be the ambassador for the car in Haiti if I have to, but I’m going to find a way.

For more information: www.1gracing.com