When Chris Evans spun around the track in the first few minutes of this week's Top Gear it was in a Zenos E10S, made in Norfolk.

Eastern Daily Press: Chris Evans in Zenos Car's E10S on Top Gear. Picture: BBC/Mark YeomanChris Evans in Zenos Car's E10S on Top Gear. Picture: BBC/Mark Yeoman (Image: WARNING: Use of this copyright image is subject to the terms of use of BBC Pictures' Digital Picture Service (BBC Pictures) a...)

He described the lightweight Wymondham-made car as 'Darth Vader's weekend wheels', adding: 'If Mo Farah was a car he may well be a Zenos; supreme performance with a bare minimum of skin and bone to slow him down.'

It was later taken around the track by professional racing driver The Stig, completing the test track in one minute, 21.1 seconds.

And a Sunday night prime time television appearance has already boosted interest, according to Zenos sales and marketing manager Jamie Lewis.

'It is exposure you can't buy,' said Mr Lewis. 'We are extremely proud and the feedback from the programme was excellent.'

Zenos, based in Wymondham Business Park, was founded in 2012 by Ansar Ali and Mark Edwards after the two had worked on projects at Lotus and Caterham Cars together.

The company has sold more than 100 cars since production started in January last year and Mr Lewis said they hoped to reach 500 cars a year by 2020.

Mr Lewis added: 'We were fantastically pleased with the time on track. We were the same time as a Lotus car who we see as one of our main competitors.'

The car also appeared on Top Gear: Extra Gear on BBC Three after the programme.