The Radical SR3 is a race and sports car built by Radical Sportscars in Peterborough since 2002. A development of the Clubsport 1100 and designed by race car designer Mike Pilbeam, it has become Radical’s most successful model, with more than 1,100 units sold.
Radical SR3 at a glance
| Maker | Radical Sportscars, Peterborough |
|---|---|
| Production | since 2002 |
| Designer | Mike Pilbeam |
| Developed from | Clubsport 1100 |
| Chassis | steel trellis |
| Weight | under 600 kg |
| Cornering | up to 2 g thanks to aerodynamic downforce |
| Body | open, no roof or boot |
| Engines | 1,300 cc Suzuki Hayabusa; 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost in the SL |
| SR3 SL output | 243 PS (179 kW), 304 PS (224 kW) with the Race Pack |
| Drive | left- or right-hand drive |
| Built | over 1,100 |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the SR3.
History of the Radical SR3
The SR3 was created for international competition in the FIA’s C3 class and is regarded as a further development of the earlier Clubsport 1100. It was drawn by Mike Pilbeam and has been produced at Peterborough since 2002. In 2009 Radical presented a further developed version of the car.
The biggest change in the model’s life came with the SR3 SL, for Street Legal, a version homologated for small-series road use. Because a road car needs a heater, one was fitted; the SL also has footwell lighting and a 12-volt socket. In autumn 2014 Radical presented a revised racing version, the SR3 RSX.
Design and features
- Very low weight: a trellis chassis keeps the car under 600 kg, and the racing bucket seats save more.
- Downforce: the aerodynamics allow cornering acceleration of up to 2 g at speed.
- Motorcycle engines: the Suzuki Hayabusa 1300 unit powers the SR3 RS 1300, SR3 RS 1500 Turbo and SR3 RSX.
- Road-going SL: the SR3 SL uses the 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost four from the Focus ST and can be ordered with a Race Pack.
Radical SR3 versions
- SR3 RS 1300: racing version with the Suzuki Hayabusa 1300 engine.
- SR3 RS 1500 Turbo: turbocharged racing version.
- SR3 SL: street-legal small-series car with the 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost, 243 PS or 304 PS with the Race Pack.
- SR3 RSX: revised racing version presented in autumn 2014.
The smaller SR4 was intended as a sibling to the SR3, while the SR8 sits above it in the range. More cars are in the Radical collection.
Sources
- Radical SR3, English Wikipedia: history, engines, weights
