In pictures: Steve Cropley’s year in cars

Steve Cropley’s year in cars 2017

What a remarkable year! Electrification and autonomy were even more prevalent in 2017 but three other trends were discernible: a reduction in brand-promotion activities (too many other cash demands); a determination by supercar makers to launch near-ready products while the going’s good; and a high level of nostalgia-laden old-car activity, to remind us of when car life was simple.

Despite concerns for the future, this was an awesome year, promising very new and very different automotive experiences on an unprecedented scale. 

January

Zero-pollution, hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai proved a refined and easy-driving car. It was simple to fuel but more pumps are needed. 

February

The famous finishing straight at Brooklands was revealed for the first time in more than 70 years when, with lottery funding, a (protected) Bellman hangar was removed from it, soon to be erected nearby. The much improved site is now open to visitors. 

March

This is what you see if you get invited ‘round the back’ at JLR Classic Works. The collection of Jags – and other makes – is so comprehensive that it takes your breath away, but you do wonder what’s ahead for these cars. They ought to be driven, not stored. 

April

McLaren’s 720S proved its all-conditions capability on an Italian launch that took in very varied roads – billiard-table smooth to downright rough. Woking’s engineers don’t seem to believe in truly uncompromising ride quality, even for their cars’ sportiest road settings. 

April

In a Rome street, two small cars, made 40 years apart, demonstrate the effect of crash-safety engineering and the advance of human proportions on car size. The Fiat 500 looks cute but would never survive the testing regimes needed for any modern car to get on the road. 

May

Renault finally built a sprint car I’d been hoping they’d do for ages – a very fast, very grippy Renault Zoe. I didn’t drive it, but those who did reckoned it was amazing. 

June

A 1950s Landie pick-up awaits restoration at JLR’s new Classic Works, near Coventry. It will get the finest treatment, using original parts where available. Values of these oldies have started to rocket. The business takes clients’ restorations and buys cars like this to restore.

June

The Le Mans 24 Hours was typically brilliant this year despite flawed performances from the big guys, Porsche and Toyota. An LMP2 car nearly won! Getting out of the place after the finish is always problematic: this year, we did it in style. 

June

We all sniffed a bit when sculptor Gerry Judah’s 2017 Goodwood Festival installation was dedicated to “the five eras of Bernie Ecclestone” but it’s interesting how F1’s new-broom organisers have reached the year-end with lingering problems – such as less overtaking than ever. Maybe the little bloke wasn’t all bad. 

June

Lucky to have the chance to demonstrate the new McLaren 570S Spider at Goodwood Festival of Speed. I felt a bit apprehensive as I’d not driven the car before but, with the engine on its loudest setting and traction-keeping electronics fully on, nobody else knew.

July

Fascinating discovery at a Fighter Collection Duxford meeting was that this Bristol Blenheim fuselage was used for a while as the body of an electric car. It’s now flying again. 

September

Ariel, makers of the Atom, joined two partners, Delta and Equipmake, to launch this extraordinary, partly government-funded Hipercar, a 1200-horsepower, four-wheel-drive electric creation that promises to be the world’s fastest-accelerating road car. 

September

The Lotus 25, the world’s most beautiful single-seater (says me), soaks up the Goodwood sun at the Revival. Other grand prix cars are far faster, but this one introduced monocoque construction to F1 and its lay-down driving position showed the benefit of small frontal area. 

November

Bloodhound, Britain’s 1000mph challenger, imperiously carried off its first tests at Newquay, hitting 200mph repeatedly. Next it’ll go “very fast”, says the team.