“Pack your bags, James. You’re going to Portugal”. This seemed an odd way to tell me that I was being relocated, but as a true blue Englishman, I took it on the chin. Fortunately I‘d only packed up half my desk before a clearer picture was painted.

News that Mini’s all-new Roadster was to make its performance debut affront a baying mob of media representatives received the full parade of bells and whistles. This car, after all, was the de-roofed version of Mini’s controversial Coupe, so clearly had to do the business. And where better to demonstrate its sporty nature than on Portugal’s sun-kissed winding roads. Once again, crankandpiston’s newboy was off on another adventure.

The 8340km, nine-hour journey to Lisbon began (very) early on Friday morning. Forward planning has never been my forte, and twenty minutes before setting off, my travel bag was still empty. But come midnight I was whistling my way to Dubai International Airport, where I would meet up with my three fellow press invitees and our delightful BMW representative.

Best-laid plans have a tendency to fall flat though. It turns out there were no direct routes from Dubai to Lisbon, and our 2am roundhouse flight to Zurich had already been delayed by adverse weather.

Still, this did give us the chance to sample life in the business lounge while we waited. A couple of coffees plus the occasional vol-au-vent helped keep us alert, while some of our fellow-Zurich bound travellers decided to catch some zzzs.

By 4.30am our Swiss Airlines airbus had left the tarmac and was hurtling through the clouds in an attempt to make up for lost time.

With each passing episode of How I Met Your Mother on the plane’s in-built entertainment system, my seat back was getting less and less vertical, until I finally gave up the fight at 5.30am and closed my weary eyes.

We were in for a shock upon landing in Zurich. Lower temperatures we had expected, but not snow. Hats, gloves and winter coats that had been brought ‘just in case’ were suddenly a la mode.

While waiting for our connecting flight, we took the time to check emails, grab a newspaper and scope the cafes for espresso.

Twenty minutes of sleep and an impulse buy explain why I now own several pairs of Swiss flag monogrammed socks.

One three hour flight later and we finally landed in Lisbon. Having been in the air for nearly eleven hours across two time zones, safe to say nobody knew the local time, and the hunt began for baggage claim and a clock.

At 10am (apparently) we found our way to the BMW Welcome Centre inside Lisbon International Airport, where our genial hosts explained the day’s undertakings over a glass of OJ and bitesize sandwiches.

Fed and watered we examined the route map, which covered an extensive 148km and would take over two hours. Our Middle Eastern contingent was champing at the bit to sample some high-speed twisting roads again.

Downstairs we buddied up and were shown our respective steeds for the afternoon. Each Mini Coupe Roadster, powered by a 122hp four-cylinder engine, would be capable of 199kph and hurry from 0-100kph in 9.2s. We’d be doing our level best to see if these figures passed muster.

Five members of our group divided across several two-seaters meant one of our group would travel solo. In the end it was BMW PR girl Meabh who chose the short straw, and would thus join our convoy in a Mini Cooper One. A John Cooper Works Special too no less.

With everyone sitting comfortably, our route map front and centre, and the roof stowed accordingly, we headed for the light behind the exit sign to begin our journey >>>