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Instead, we opted for the budget priced, 50 Euro leg to Bologna airport, where we promptly rented a car from Hertz, who were by far the most competitive (an important consideration with four maxed out credit cards on hand) and drove back to Sant’Agata Bolognese, where we feasted on three of the world’s greatest pizzas I have ever eaten, for seven euro each! The restaurant is called “Maggi”. Bookmark it.

By the time we made it to Milan, it was 2.00am, and we hit the sack, courtesy of Alborz’s uncle’s place. The family had stayed up for hours waiting for our arrival although; we didn’t dare mention that we drove back 30kms just to eat pizza! Worse still, we had to be up at 4.30am to drive to the airport and make the flight to Gatwick, in the UK.

With great relief, our European photographer, Shaun Lay, met us at the airport and we were finally on the move towards Aston’s HQ at Gaydon, three hours behind schedule!

It’s a surreal feeling as you pass by the main gates to Jaguar and Land Rover, two of the biggest names in British Automotive history.

You know you’re getting close to the hallowed ground, when a V8 Vantage and DBS scream by you looking more like a couple of low flying Tornado fighter jets. Our adrenalin levels were through the roof, despite our lack of sleep.

Security at the Aston Martin guardhouse is tight - real tight. The guards, while pleasant enough, had that ex-SAS look about them. We answered “yes sir” to these guys, as they directed us to pull to the side of the road, while our PR contact was tracked down for approval to enter the place.

A small crew from Top Gear were shooting a segment in a DB9 Volante (with roof down) close to where we were parked, and given it was a bitterly cold and windy day, we sure were glad it was they in the soft top and not us.

The main building at Aston Martin is an outstanding piece of modern architecture, complete with its own mote, and in stark contrast to the company’s previous low rent facility in the ancient city of Newport Pagnell.

The bright yellow V8 Vantage, which appears to float on top of the mote is an extraordinary sight, but it wasn’t enough to postpone our acquisition of the keys to one of the world’s most in demand, Grand Tourers.

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