RICHARD MEADEN

Meaden recalls some hair-raising drives on international press launches

- RICHARD MEADEN

ONE OF THE STAPLES OF THE MOTORING journalist's life is the international press launch. Post-pandemic, these once legendarily lavish overseas events are just beginning to hit their stride again, albeit in a somewhat pale imitation of their pomp back in the '90s and '00s.

It's good to have them back. Launches have always been the part of the job that makes me feel most connected to the industry. Driving the cars ahead of their general release and spending time with the brilliant people who design, engineer and develop them still carries the same excitement I felt when I first travelled overseas to drive a new car some 30 years ago.

Just this week I flew to Italy to drive the Pininfarina Battista. The near-2000bhp EV supercar is very much a reflection of now, but the drive event itself was pleasingly old-school. For starters there was just me and one other journalist. I drove the car all morning, he drove it all afternoon. The format was informal but packed in all the things you want, starting with a reassuringly expensive hotel and a relaxed dinner to get to know the key personnel.