Photo : - Autosport International Show

All the experience gained by Radical at the 24 Hours of Le Mans has contributed to the development of a sportscar for the road.

Radical SR9 at  Le Mans 2008 photo : - Julien HERGAULT

In 2006, Radical was known for its ambitious endurance racing programme with an LM P2 prototype that was quite successful at the time. A 'wild card' in its class, the SR9 did not disappoint, even though it suffered bad timing in coming up against two auto giants such as Porsche and Acura (Honda).

The small manufacturer based in Peterborough in England has taken advantage of the knowledge gained during that racing programme in the design of its new coupé called the RXC that appeared at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham. The Le Mans legacy has led its designers to opt for a chassis that combines carbon fibre and steel. On the mechanical side, their engine choice is a 380hp, 3.7 litre Ford V6 and a seven speed sequential gearbox. With a total weight of only 900 kg, performance data is up with the best current supercars with 0 to 100 km/h time of only 2.8 seconds and maximum speed in excess of 280 km/h.

The first deliveries of this road going radical will be during the course of the summer. I could even be possible to admire a few examples in the car parking areas at future 24 Hours of Le Mans ... We may even see Radical return to endurance racing.

Julien HERGAULT

Photo : BIRMINGHAM (UK), AUTOSPORT SHOW, SUNDAY 13th JAN 2012. The Radical RXC.