March 29, 2005 SR9 Update

Radical announced that in addition to initial support from their dealer organization of the SR9 project, they have "received a huge amount of encouragement from potential customers".  In typical Radical fashion, they already made a move to improve the original design concept without loosing sight of their original goal.

The SR9's design consultant Peter Elleray explained, "I was happy that our original design would do the job and pass the FIA crash test, but it was always going to be a few kilos heavier than an all-carbon tub. I have been working with some of Radical's existing suppliers and we can now confirm that we can produce an all-carbon tub for the SR9 within the strict budget constraints we have set ourselves i.e. the rolling chassis should cost no more than £130K ($240,000).

I'm sure this won't be the last "good news" update we'll hear before the SR9 is released.  Stay tuned!

March 15, 2005 New SR9!

Radical Sportscars Announces LMP2 SR9 For 2006

Radical Sportscars today announces its intention to build the SR9 LMP2 car for the 2006 season: this will be the latest in the company's line of highly cost effective prototypes.

"As a statement of our intent, we have hired Peter Elleray as a consultant to oversee the design of the SR9, working alongside our own Chief Engineer Nick Walford," commented Radical co-founder Mick Hyde. "Peter was responsible for the Le Mans Bentleys, but we're going to utilise his design skills in a rather more cost-effective way for this project."

A key feature of the SR9 will be its price.

"Our philosophy is to expend as much effort on engineering a car to a price as we do on the car's performance," continues Mick Hyde. "The rolling chassis will cost £120,000 ($228,000) to £130,000 ($247,000), with the engine and ancillaries costing another £30,000 ($57,000). We believe this will bring a lot more racers into prototype racing - people who previously considered it too expensive."

"The monocoque will be of an aluminium-carbon composite construction," explains Peter Elleray. "We believe that we can build an LMP2 car within the 750kg minimum weight, utilising this type of cost effective construction. The SR9 is obviously a completely different type of engineering challenge to designing an overall Le Mans winner, but it is one that is hugely rewarding and I'm very much enjoying working with the Radical team."

The power unit will be Radical's own Powertec RPD Macroblock V8, as used (as the RPA) in the SR8, but enlarged to 3 litres. With a restrictor break for a smaller engine than the 3.4 litre limit, power will be a highly competitive 525bhp @ 11,350 rpm.

There are a number of 'Radical-family' design cues for the SR9, but some of the car's features may look familiar from elsewhere. The air intakes have a Bentley look about them, while the carbon cockpit fairing is reminiscent of the Ferrari 333SP. As with all conventional carbon monocoque cars the footbox is raised to best utilise the front-end, under-car airflow.

"We produce our own engines, transaxles, brakes and suspension in partnership with key suppliers and manufacturer, fabricated items, machined components and composites in-house," comments Mick Hyde. "This is the key to our system of producing competitive cars at a realistic price."

The company already has 18 distributors around the world: key distributors will be appointed to head-up the Radical attack on both the ALMS and LMES.

"We're announcing this project at Sebring because we can see the potential of this car in the ALMS, as well as in Europe," explains Mick Hyde. "It's going to be highly competitive, but we believe that the price of the car will be its unique selling point. We expect to sell cars to privateers moving up from GT racing and from smaller prototypes, while we envisage this car being the ideal starting point for young chargers who want to become the next Allan McNish. We want to create a whole new market for sports prototypes."

Customers who wish to go 'all the way' to Le Mans have the option to upgrade the standard iron discs to carbon items, while alternative transaxles can be fitted instead of the Powertec RQ2 six-speed, which is supplied as standard. There is also the option to fit an Engine Developments or Nicholson-McLaren engine.

Mick Hyde concludes, "Daniel Perdrix at the ACO has seen our plans, and recognises the value of this LMP2 project. The design of the SR9 is not going to be revolutionarily, but the commercial thinking behind the project is. We've achieved all our targets with our current models; now we're going to do it with this one."

"We're planning on having the first car ready to be shaken down in the Spring of 2006."

March 1, 2005  RADICAL NEWS

In spite of Radical Extreme Sports Car’s phenomenal success with their DSR Prosport, SR4 Clubsport, and the SR3 Supersport, Radical refuses to let complacency set in.  In addition to continually improving the current lineup, they took on a new challenge with the October 2004 announcement that they were adding a new model, the Radical SR8.

The SR8 is based on the very successful and award winning SR3 Turbo space-frame chassis, suspension and a new aerodynamic package designed to handle the added power.  The wind tunnel test of this design proved that the aerodynamic downforce of the SR8, at the cars maximum speed, would support more than the combined weight of the car, the fuel and the driver!  Couple this with a brand new Powertec RPA V8 engine and a Quaife lightweight six speed drive system and you have the makings of a truly Radical Sports Car.

The new RPA V8 engine, manufactured in-house by Radical’s engine company Powertec Engineering.  It utilizes Suzuki GSXR 1300 cylinder heads and barrels.  All other major components are supplied by Powertec.  The 72° V-angle is the optimum for a compact motor; while the side-mounted scavenge pumps and dry sump ensure a low crankshaft location and subsequently a very low center of gravity.  The very first time this engine was put on a dyno, it generated an impressive 363bhp.  In spite of its high horse power capabilities, testing shows that it has the same durability as the engines powering the entire Radical lineup.

The first SR8’s went into production in January and we are now enjoying some real world feedback on this amazing automobile.  In a test session on February 2 at Brands Hatch, without any setup work at all, Michael Vergers recorded a lap of 43.8 seconds.  Michael confidently predicts times in the low 42 second range.  It was also reported on the Radical West web site, John Morris Radical West CEO, during SR8 testing at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, broke the track record at 1:35.5.  It was also reported on February 11, during a “Touring Car Racing Association” event at the banked Las Vegas Speedway, hosting Corvettes, Vipers, and Ferraris along with the Porsches from the POC, that John took pole position from a professionally driven Porsche GT3 RS Cup car by 3 seconds.  It further states that “the 17 lap race was an action packed affair with a grid full of Radicals, Porsches and Vipers doing battle…that is except for John; he just cruised into the distance and won the race by 25 seconds!”  Oh, by the way, John also has a Radical that is legally registered in Nevada as a street machine.  He says it’s great for Saturday morning cruises but be prepared for a little extra attention at your favorite gathering or restaurant.

If this sounds like your idea of fun, call CGI Motorsports.  We’ll save a spot on the grid for you and your Radical.