Friday 29th July 2005

Radical finalises Le Mans prototype

525bhp racecars now on sale

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Radical SR9

Radical has finalised the design, specification and price of its SR9 Le Mans Prototype 2 car, and three of our first batch of chassis have been sold.

The company decided to offer a turn-key car, comprising a carbon-composite chassis, Peter Elleray-designed suspension and aerodynamics, 2-litre turbo Powertec AER engine and a Ricardo transmission, which has the same internals as the Le Mans-winning Audis.

The power unit is Radical's own Powertec RPD Macroblock V8, as used in the SR8, but enlarged to three litres, giving 525bhp at 11,350 rpm.

In Radical's words, nothing is guaranteed in motorsport, but:

• Radical has a reputation of producing the best, competitively-priced sports prototypes
• Peter Elleray is one of the best sportscar designers in the world, and proved it by winning Le Mans for Bentley
• The Powertec AER 2 litre turbo is the most powerful LMP2 engine available, and has recently proven to be exceptionally reliable as well as the least expensive to rebuild.

The price of the first four rolling chassis is £148,000 plus VAT.  Subsequent chassis will be £180,000 plus VAT. Engine installation is £65,000 plus VAT. More details on Radical's Web site.

Links

• www.radicalsportscars.com
• Related story

[mastiff]

Rollcentre colours????

Go Shorty....

[jaker]

any idea what the likelihood of seeing one at lemons is?

11,000 rpm!! yes please....

[dinkel]

That's about the same power a 3 litre Cosworth F1 had, early 80s . . . Nice, very nice. I want that lump in my dream Tamora . . . But must learn to drive well first

[PetrolTed]

mastiff said:

Rollcentre colours???? Go Shorty....

[RichUK]

Wow

[beast]

AER "Powertec" engine in the Rollcentre cars not the Radical "Powertec" V8 screamer.

...and yes all being well LeM next year, entry permitting

:getsdownonbendedkneesandpreys:

[mgv8]

It us so good to see the UK continue to make some of the best sports cars in the world...

[RickH]

Yours for the price of a decent house .... £250,000

[AlShack]

So, is that 2 or 3 litre? I'm guessing 3 as I seem to recall the Radical V8 was initially 2.6l...

[DaveR]

"...three litres, giving 525bhp at 11,350 rpm"

I'm sorry, I've just come.

[mybrainhurts]

DaveR said:

I'm sorry, I've just come.

Late again, eh...?

[d_drinks]

mastiff said:

Rollcentre colours???? Go Shorty....

Exactly what I thought, a departure from the Dellara?? Fair play to Shorty if he is taking the risk of running a new comer to this market (I know the history of Radical and the cars they've produced, but this is a whole new era) rather than the established players. I will be great to see if the two companies are working together, rather than the colours being used as a mock up.

[FestivAli]

Whatever. So long as it's competitive against those pesky audi's...

[wedgepilot]

Article said:

...and three of our first batch of chassis have been sold.

A simple copy 'n' paste typo, or has Ted bought shares in the company?

Awesome sounding car, btw

[tonyf]

Shortys purchased "2" chassis apparently..!!!

[andyf]

Am I reading this right? Radical are actually selling (at a high price, obviously) Le Mans-able cars to the General Public ?

[racefan_uk]

FestivAli said:

Whatever. So long as it's competitive against those pesky audi's...

Audi R8's won't be running in LMES/ALMS or at Le Mans next year. And the Audi's are also in the LMP1 class, whereas the Radicals will be in the smaller, and slower, LMP2 class.

So, no, they won't be competitive against those (fantstically) pesky Audis'...

[Dan Friel]

They will however be dicing against the new Porsche.. which has already done several thousand miles of testing. Le Mans 2006 will be interesting.

[gridgway]

so, I'm a bit fick ok. That article talks about the engine being both 2l and 3l. What are they talking about?

Graham