DB9 - It wowed the world's motoring press at it's launch on the glamourous Cote d'Azur, but now we test the Aston Martn DB9's mettle on the uniquely testing British roads that flow over the Yorkshire Moors. The Bentley Continental GT, Mercedes SL55 AMG and the Porsche 911 Turbo are on hand to discover if the DB9 really is the consummate sporting GT. Prepare to be surprised...

News - In a month dominated by new British sports cars, we've also got the full lowdown on the ttunning Noble M14 and the new Marcos TSO. Meanwhile, there's depressing news about Honda's long-awaited NSX replacement and we've got some sneak pictures of Ferrari's replacement for the 360 Modena

evoactive trackdays - There's nothing like empty, tightly-policed roads..... well, not in Britain anyway. So instead why not book yourself into one of our evoactive trackdays wher-e you can enjoy your car's full performance without worrying about points, bans or imprisonment. We've got a host of hot-lap rides available with professional racers, too; not for pregnant women or people with heart conditions

Letters - Porter's column last month on private registration plates seems to have stirred up a hornet's nest. It seems plenty of you think you don't have to be ATW 4T to own one, and that maybe it's Porter who's the D1 CHD. We're staying out of it. There's also some debate over whether the 997 Porsche is such a forward step. And one of you is very disgruntled that Jaguar has revived its promising F-type project

Columns - Audi's announcement that it's going to invest in another big-budget prototype sports car to dominate Le Mans [we thought it was doing that already] has got Dron wishing the company would step-up to the main stage and tackle F1, whilst Buckley has joined the ranks of burger-stall owners by purchasing a Rolts-Royce Silver Shadow. Porter, naturally, is concerned with bigger issues, like which is the sportiest letter of the alphabet

Morgan Aero 8 GT & TVR Tuscan S to Le Mans - The great race at La Sarthe is very special but a large part of its appeal isn't the racing but the fantastic drive through France to get there. Every year 50,000 Brits make the pilgrimage. This year we join them in roadgoing relations of two of this year's racecars, the outrageous Morgan Aero GT and the storming TVR Tuscan S. Colin Goodwin reports

Driven:
Farboud GTS
Vauxhall VXR220
Vauxhall Monaro VXR
Subaru Impreza STi
BMW 1-series
DMS Porsche 911 Turbo
Volvo S60 T5
SEAT Ibiza Cupra TDI

Inside the 24 Hours - While the Audi R8s contest one of the best ever races at Le Mans, at the opposite end of the grid the Morgan team will just be happy to finish. With a budget that will just about cover Audi's catering bill, the boys from Malvern are competing more for pride than glory. Jethro Bovingdon charts the highs and lows of the team's 24 Hours while Brian Laban shadows the awesome R8s of Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx

New 911 - The new Porsche 997 is bigger, faster and cleverer, but is it still a proper 911? Richard Meaden drives the all-singing 350bhp Carrera S to see if the old magic is still there, then John Barker takes over the story with the standard Carrera and pitches it against the Noble GTO-3R, BMW 645 Ci and perhaps its toughest challenger; the car it replaces

Trackday Car of the Year - If track cars are your bag, then this is the ultimate test: 14 cars. two days at the UK's greatest trackday venue and the incisive views of Richard Meaden, Roger Green and racer Phil Bennett. From 360 Challenge Stradale to Clio land with a smattering of extreme prototypes in between) there's something here for everyone

Sports cars giant test - The Mercedes SLK has been transformed from poseur's chariot to a serious driver's car but can it cut it against the best from Porsche, TVR, BMW, Honda and Nissan? - Jethro Bovingdon heads to Exmoor in search of empty roads, sunshine and some answers

Long-term tests - Julian Kirk welcomes our funky new Smart Roadster Brabus, and no sooner has Harry got his 340R back on the road afterjumpmg it into a field than he's getting the thing tuned-up with even more power. We're taking bets on how far it'll fly when it's got the full 195bhp. Meanwhile, Roger Green's been driving a Carrera RS replica and photographer Morgan has been on an Audi driving course and is now fully up to speed with lift-off understeer, power understeer and terminal understeer

evo sport - More fascinating WRC insights from the man who reads the pace notes, Focus WRC co-driver Michael Park

Essentials - For your delectation this month we've got a Nitro-powered 4wd remote-controlled Nissan 350Z, super-fast Alpinestars racing boots, the new Road Angel and the usual clutch of watches, books and games

The Knowledge - Try as you might, you won't find a Mitsubishi 3000GT in here. We've got Volvos, Saabs and even a couple of Hyundais, for heaven's sake, but no 3000GT. Not even for a bet

Great Escapes - When the British Touring Car Championship was must-see TV and every race was filled with incident and scary near-misses, Gabriele Tarquini was always in the thick of the action in his Alfa 155. Here he remembers his multiple barrel-roll at the Knockhill circuit in Scotland which destroyed his car and probably didn't do his fireproof underwear much good. either. Colin Goodwin gets inside the mind of the driver when racing goes wrong...