At the GT5 'Dealership', the STs likely to leave you broke but happy. Ford's hot hatch wonder looks so real on the screen, in luscious 1080p hi-def; its bodywork glistening, engine purring, pistons pumping, thrusting ... erm. Sorry, need to take a cold shower. Be right back.

You'll need to configure the driving settings: we went for manual gearbox, all stability and traction controls turned off. Set the new driving physics model to professional and you'll get a real feel of what the ST is like. We discovered in Wales that driving the Focus is a bit like galloping on a turbo-charged steed with road-gripping Velcro on its hooves. It also stops on a dime and serves up an easy-going handling balance, albeit with the front end eventually washing out wide in the hairpins.



Problem is, our real-life experience doesn't initially help us with the GTs Focus, even though its recreation ofFord's roadster is uncanny. Using control sticks just doesn't seem to be cutting it, and our ST is cornering in a series of drunken swerves, its pixellated driver visibly turning red with embarrassment. The solution, obviously, is to invest in a decent steering wheel controller - such as the Logitech and Thrustmaster wheels on these very pages - at the same time as you splash out for GTs.