One day in 2009, three hoary old Brits took to a Romanian road in an Aston Martin, a Ferrari and a Lamborghini. Not known for being easily impressed, they were smitten, and declared it the best road in the world. The Brits were the Top Gear team; the road was the Transfagarasan.

So what makes people who have driven all over the world declare this one the world’s greatest road? To find out I drove it in October of 2024 – twice.