A Radical approach to racing
Radical has let loose its latest high-downforce, maximum corner speed machine on Kiwi racetracks. Nile Bijoux reports.
Radical’s latest all-out racing machinery has landed in New Zealand, with local dealer GB Motorsports bringing in the SR3XX first and the to-berevealed SR10 also on the cards.
The SR3XX is the ‘‘latest and smartest iteration’’ of the racer, coming as an entry point to the brand. It offers awhole 145kw of power from the base 1.3-litre engine and 169kw of power if you go for the ‘‘big block’’ 1.5-litre engine. The engines are massaged versions of the Suzuki Hayabusa engine, which are known for reliability even when producing big power figures.
Might not sound like much but a claimed weight of 620kg means sprinting it to 60mph (96kmh) takes 3.3 seconds for the 1.3L or 3.1s for the 1.5L. Top speeds are 227kmh and 236kmh respectively. We’d expect lap times to be brutally quick as well, judging by the aerodynamic bits and bobs.
Meanwhile, the SR10 is due here in April but no major details are available at present.
Back when the news was confirmed of Radical coming to New Zealand, Stuff was told by GB Motorsports the cars would be priced ‘‘as per Radical UK pricing. The only additional charges will be shipping/ freight.’’
That means the base price for the SR3XX will be $139,000 plus GST. GB Motorsport expects buyers to spend an additional $10k to $20k on optional extras.
Radical is also partnering with Hampton Downs to offer the racetrack’s GT Membership with any Radical purchase in 2020. Granted, there’s not a lot of time left to take advantage of that offer but it’s still a pretty decent incentive.
‘‘It is a real privilege to be representing Radical Sportscars here in New Zealand,’’ said Greg Brinck, a former racer and the managing director of GB Motorsports.
‘‘The Radical is a trackfocused car and provides the ultimate driving experience for drivers of all skill levels. New Zealanders have a great passion for special cars and motorsport and Radical offers supercar performance and handling at a fraction of the cost. I am confident that we will have strong interest here.’’
Technical and trackside services, along with spares backup will be supported by Racelab, a fully equipped motorsports service workshop. Racelab are backed by a team of experienced technicians, led by Neil Garnerwho offers more than 20 years’ experience across F1, GT3 and GT4.
‘‘Radical has long harboured ambitions of representation in New Zealand, but it was important to pair with a business with a real understanding of, and trackside experience in, the New Zealand motorsport community,’’ said Dan Redpath, Radical’s global sales director.