Up to a point, yes. But it's not nearly as glamorous as it sounds.

Few people realise that the bulk of a motoring writer's life is spent slaving away at a keyboard with a deadline looming, not gadding about in a flash motor at someone else's expense.

The most famous people I've ever met are probably racing drivers: depending on your preferred era, Sir Stirling Moss (right), 1979 F1 World Champion Jody Scheckter or 1996 F1 World Champion Damon Hill.