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Despite the novelty of the TF's rise from the ashes, there's actually plenty of precedent for this kind of thing.

The first had the glorious whiff of recently ignited petrol, occupied ramps and nowhere to sit in the reception area. Less than a mile away, the other had lots of polished plate glass and floor tile, but no life, soul or customers. It was the contrast between a dealer getting it right in a recession, and another stuck up a blind alley.

Both were Jag dealers. The first is a solidly independent operation with a busy workshop and affordable cars getting sold. The other was a main dealer with tumbleweed under the ramps and a showroom with all the bustle and atmosphere of a crypt.

Before nostalgic minicabbers get too excited, I should add that at least one lesson has been learned, and that Renault has no plans to actually bring the thing to the UK. Or, indeed, to Europe.

The new Safrane is intended to compete in the (mostly sandy) parts of the world where the natives still remember vintage big French saloons fondly. The hope is that the Safrane will be seen as a worthy successor to rugged barges like the Peugeot 504 and Renault 30.

The Brazilian never putting a wheel wrong in his Ferrari F2008, coming home just over five seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton’s charging McLaren.

So can Massa finish the job and close down Hamilton’s present six point lead?

Not only is this one of two brand new races on the 2008 schedule – the other one being next month’s Singapore fixture – but it is a reflection of how Spain has consolidated its position as a commercial and sporting force within Europe over the past few years. Not bad for a country which had something of an on-off love affair with this high octane business right up to the emergence of Fernando Alonso just five years ago.