On Saturday, August 20, Sir Stirling did several laps at Laguna Seca raceway in 722, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR with which he took his extraordinary Mille Miglia win in 1955. Accompanying him as passenger was American TV personality and car enthusiast extraordinaire Jay Leno.

This was to be 722's last run ever, apparently, before being finally and fully retired to the new Mercedes museum.

The car looked and sounded magnificent in the maestro's hands. Philip Porter