Category: Radical Cup

Three Radical world champions crowned at Yas Marina Finals

Following previous Radical World Finals in Las Vegas (2022) and Portimão (2023), the action moved to Abu Dhabi’s Formula 1 venue at the Yas Marina Circuit. This event was organized with the support of local Radical dealer partner GulfSport Racing …

Following previous Radical World Finals in Las Vegas (2022) and Portimão (2023), the action moved to Abu Dhabi’s Formula 1 venue at the Yas Marina Circuit. This event was organized with the support of local Radical dealer partner GulfSport Racing (UAE) and was sponsored by the Abu Dhabi based owners of the revolutionary Kinetic7 hydrogen/water cooker technology.

One of the attractions of the event was the huge amount of track time that drivers enjoyed as they got familiar with the 3.4-mile GP circuit with its 17 turns. During the lead up to the weekends action, which including a qualifying session, three heat races and the all-important world finals race, some seven hours of testing was available. The 20-minute qualifying was intense with no less than 32 drivers striving to secure the best grid positions for the first two ‘sprint’ races that took place before the ‘endurance’ race on Sunday afternoon.

Dubai-based Alim Geshev (TT Racing) secured pole in the Platinum Class which included four SR10 XXRs and interestingly a 14-year-old Radical SR8 driven expertly by Saudi driver Saeed Almouri (DW Racing). This class of cars, being some three seconds a lap faster than the larger PRO 1500 class of course dominated the front of the races of this multi-class event, which is three race classes in one. The PRO 1500 class which provided three quarters of the grid driving SR3 XXRs made for extremely close racing with identical Hankook tyres and Radical’s own RPE engines, especially when so many on the grid are winners and champions from various Radical Cup championships around the world.

HEAT RACE 1

The first Sprint race began with the customary rolling start led by Geshev in his 425hp Radical SR10 XXR. All cars navigated through the 90-degree Turn 1 smoothly, but two top drivers — Gregg Gorski (Radical Factory) and Oscar Joyce (DW Racing) — were absent from the front row, stuck in the pit lane due to timing protocol issues. As Geshev pulled ahead, the PRO 1500 class fought for position, with Usmaan Mughal (GulfSport Racing) moving up quickly, passing both Sebastian Murray (Dream Racing) and Ian Aguilera (RAW Motorsports) before Turn 1. Murray later spun out at Turn 9, adding to the race’s intensity.

At the checkered flag, it was Geshev followed by Joyce, the only other Platinum class driver to make it past all the PRO 1500 drivers. Mughal had managed to stay ahead of the young guns to win the PRO 1500 class, with 17-year-old Mexican superstar Aguilera having to be content with P2 ahead of Kristian Brookes (Valour Racing).

HEAT RACE 2

The starting grid for Sprint race 2 was set by the driver’s best lap times from race one, putting SR10 XXRs Geshev and Joyce on the front row, with SR3 XXRs Aguilera and Mughal on row two.

When the lights went out, 32 cars sped into Turn 1, led by the two SR10s and followed closely by four SR3s — Mughal, Aguilera, Brookes, and Radical Cup UK, North America, and Gulf regular Jack Yang (Valour Racing). They all made it through safely, though a spin by Fujinami (GulfSport Racing) triggered a safety car. Aguilera managed to overtake Mughal, reversing their Race 1 positions. After 25-minutes, Platinum Class drivers Geshev, Joyce, and Gorski finished in the lead, followed by PRO 1500 Class drivers Aguilera, Mughal, and Brookes. Canadians Robert Burgess (Radical Canada East), Eric “Sonny” Andrews (Radical Canada West), and John Hughes (Radical Canada West) wrapped up an intense battle with the PRO 1500 group in their SR3 XXR 1340s.

HEAT RACE 3

Sunday’s opening race was delayed by a safety car after contact between Amir Feyzulin (TT Racing) and Jordan Missig (Graham Rahal Performance), with Feyzulin retiring due to front end damage. Racing resumed quickly, with Geshev leading the field. Oscar Joyce passed Gorski at the start and closed in on Geshev, but Geshev maintained a comfortable lead and took his third win of the weekend. Gorski passed Joyce during the pitstops, finishing second.

The PRO 1500 class featured tight battles, particularly between Chris Preen (Valour Racing), and Suellio Almeida (GulfSport Racing), who nearly collided at Turns 6 and 7. Brookes led early, but a post-race penalty dropped him to second, with his Valour Racing teammate Yang taking first. Missig secured third, with Aguilera also receiving a penalty. The PRO 1340 class saw Burgess retain first place, with Andrews second and Hughes third.

WORLD FINALS RACE

The grid for the 30-minute World Final race was based on points from the previous three races, with the class winners set to be crowned 2024 Radical world champions. Geshev took pole, joined by Aguilera, followed by Joyce and Gorski in their SR10s, with Brookes, Yang, and David Evans (DW Racing) filling the next rows, among a packed field.

In the first lap, a major collision at Turn 2 involving Almouri, Johnny Khazzoum (TT Racing), George Harding (GulfSport Racing), Andrews, and Evans triggered a red flag, and a 30-minute delay. At the restart, Geshev led, with Aguilera close behind, while Gorski’s mispositioning led to a wide turn and a penalty. Mughal aggressively moved up to challenge Aguilera, while Almeida pressured Preen, with Fujinami waiting for an opening. The Canadian trio battled intensely throughout. A late collision between Jack Yang, Rick Parish (GulfSport Racing), and Mughal brought out the Safety Car, ending the race under a yellow flag.

In the end, Alim Geshev (TT Racing) claimed the Radical Platinum Class title, followed by Oscar Joyce (DW Racing), and Gregg Gorski (Radical Factory). Aguilera won the PRO 1500, with Kristian Brookes (Valour Racing) and PRO 1500 North American champion Jordan Missig (Graham Rahal Performance) in second and third. It was also a Canadian one-two-three in the PRO 1340 class, as Robert Burgess (Radical Canada East) took the PRO 1340 title, with John Hughes (Radical Canada West), and Eric “Sonny” Andrews (Radical Canada West) filling the remaining two spots.

Each world champion will receive a custom HRX race wear package, while the top three fastest laps in each class receiving a limited edition Omologato Radical Chronograph watch.

Catch up on all the action at Radical Motorsport’s YouTube channel – youtube.com/radicalmotorsport.

Radical Cup 2025 schedule includes at least two IndyCar weekends

The 2025 Radical Cup North America schedule has been released, which features at least two events with the NTT IndyCar Series. The series will again debut at Sebring International Raceway at the start of March, while next year sees Road Atlanta …

The 2025 Radical Cup North America schedule has been released, which features at least two events with the NTT IndyCar Series. The series will again debut at Sebring International Raceway at the start of March, while next year sees Road Atlanta returning to the line-up along with, for the first time, Lime Rock Park.

Radical Cup looks to build upon another year of record grids — which in 2024 averaged over 30 cars per event, including a high of 39 starters in Toronto — and high-level competition in each class from gentleman drivers and veterans along with the next generation looking to make a mark.

The live-streamed series features premium hospitality along with more track time than most, with three 40-minute races along with qualifying and a minimum of 60 minutes practice. Three classes and an additional subclass are aimed at drivers at various stages in their careers.

Pro 1340, with the slightly less-powerful SR3, is proving to be the perfect first step in the series, attracting drivers from country clubs and novice drivers to the series. However, the competition is also strong, as was seen this year with sim-star and newcomer Suellio Almeida beating out former Le Mans starter Chris McMurry.

With downforce levels and lap times akin to USF2000, Pro 1500 is where the stars of tomorrow gravitate, and in which this year part time Indy NXT driver Jordan Missig proved his prowess over Nick d’Orlando and Evan Slater. The class for 1500cc Radical SR3s is also a good fit for older drivers and those over thirty can aim for the Gold 1500 title while attempting to take wins off the young guns, as Jack Yang did at Road America.

Platinum features the 425hp turbocharged SR10, which along with the minimum driver age of thirty attracts the likes of 2002 American Le Mans champion Jon Field along and former SCCA Runoffs P1 champion Chip Romer.

“Radical Cup continues to be an amazing breeding ground for talent young and old — just look at the alumni — but also a place where people come back year after year, so it’s important to offer new challenges,” said Radical Motorsport North American Director Tom Drewer. “This year we’re delighted to be back at Road Atlanta after a few years while debuting the series at iconic Lime Rock Park. Along with the big spectator IndyCar events at Barber and Road America it’s going to be another fantastic season, and we’ve still got one more major event to announce.”

2025 Radical Cup North America schedule (provisional)

RD 1 Feb 28-Mar 2 Sebring, Fla. (with USAC)

RD 2 May 2-4 Barber, Ala. (with IndyCar)

RD 3 June 19-22 Road America (with IndyCar)

RD 4 July TBA

RD 5 Sept. 12-14 Road Atlanta (with USAC)

RD 6 Oct. 16-18 Lime Rock Park (with USAC)

TBA Radical World Finals (TBC)

Radical Cup North America events are open to local and regional Radical racers of all ages with eligible cars to participate. More information, including links to register for events and obtain licensing, can be found at radicalcupnorthamerica.com. Stay tuned to the Radical Cup social media pages for the latest series news and updates.

Missig’s Pro 1500 championship with Graham Rahal Performance a triumph over adversity

At Sonoma Raceway, Jordan Missig showcased the grit and determination that define champions, securing the 2024 Radical Cup Pro 1500 championship for Graham Rahal Performance. In its first season competing in Radical Cup, the team not only claimed …

At Sonoma Raceway, Jordan Missig showcased the grit and determination that define champions, securing the 2024 Radical Cup Pro 1500 championship for Graham Rahal Performance. In its first season competing in Radical Cup, the team not only claimed the teams’ championship in the Pro 1500 class but also earned individual honors with Missig, who also won the Jeff Green Memorial Award for his sportsmanship.

However, this victory was anything but straightforward, as Jordan faced a series of challenges that would have derailed many other drivers.

The weekend took an unexpected turn when, during practice, Missig’s car suffered a catastrophic engine failure, causing a fire. Faced with what could have been a race-ending setback, the team quickly worked to source a new chassis.

Car Chief Titas Urlakis and the Graham Rahal Performance team pulled together, managing to get the new car dialed in for the three races to come.

Missig, despite having minimal time to adjust to the new car, showed great focus and resilience. His adaptability allowed him to qualify just two-tenths of a second off the pole — a testament to his ability to perform under pressure.

“It was a roller coaster of emotions with the fire and having to jump into a new car, but I knew I had to stay focused,” Jordan said. “The team did an amazing job getting me back out there, and I just kept my head down and went for it.”

Missig’s weekend didn’t stop at overcoming adversity — he went on to sweep all three races, securing the Pro 1500 crown and emerging as the overall Radical North America champion. His performance on track was as impressive as his ability to stay calm and collected, even in the face of setbacks.

In addition to his individual success, Graham Rahal Performance secured the Team Championship in the Pro 1500 class, a remarkable achievement in their first Radical season. For Jordan, this was more than just a personal win — it was a reflection of the hard work and dedication of everyone involved.

Titas, Jordan’s Car Chief, reflected on the weekend’s challenges: “When I heard Jordan say, ‘I’m on fire,’ it was a tough moment. But the way the team came together, the way Jordan kept his cool — it was incredible. Watching him sweep the weekend and win the championship made it all worth it.”

Missig’s success at Sonoma wasn’t just about clinching a championship but was a testament to how perseverance and talent converge in pivotal moments. His ability to overcome adversity, supported by the unwavering commitment of the Graham Rahal Performance Team, led to a clean sweep and a dual victory for both himself and the team.

This milestone marks a turning point as Missig looks ahead to competing in Indy NXT in 2025 and continuing his upward trajectory in motorsports.

“This championship feels special because of everything we had to overcome,” Missig said. “It gives me momentum heading into 2025, and I’m excited to keep pushing forward.”

2024 Radical Cup North America season closes on a high note at Sonoma

The final day of Radical Cup North America competition in 2024 ended on Saturday as competitors hit the track for races two and three at Sonoma Raceway. In picturesque weather, champions were crowned, but not before some on-track battles and drama …

The final day of Radical Cup North America competition in 2024 ended on Saturday as competitors hit the track for races two and three at Sonoma Raceway. In picturesque weather, champions were crowned, but not before some on-track battles and drama through a pair of wheel-to-wheel races, one of which included a mandatory pit stop. In the end, Jon Field, Jordan Missig, and Suellio Almeida earned class championships with One Motorsports, Graham Rahal Performance, and Crown Racing with Apex scoring Team Championship honors.

Platinum
After an opening lap incident that took EVR Motorsports’ Gregg Gorski and Esses Racing’s Wayne Williams, ONE Motorsports competitor Clint Field and Chip Romer out of contention, it was clean and green to the end and another runaway win for Michai Stephens.

Earning the pole position and race one win, Stephens set the fastest lap of the race en route to his second win on the weekend. Jon Field (One Motorsports) was able to extend his championship point lead, finishing second, while Steve Jenks (Group-A Racing) overcame a late race spin to stand on the podium in the third position. With Jenks third, Louis Schriber (EVR Motorsports) was classified in the fourth position after a spin and contact with Pro 1500 driver Spencer Schmidt as he attempted to get going again, with Clint Field in fifth.

Looking for a weekend sweep, Stephens jumps to the lead at the start of race three but not before having to fend off an attack from Jon Field. Controlling the pace up front early, Stephens eventually fell back for the first time during the weekend. With a mechanical issue, Stephens relinquished the lead to Field and was never able to get it back. Jon Field, a multi-time race winner this season, was back in a familiar position and, after the mandatory race three pit stop, drove to the win and series title.

Steve Jenks was back on the podium for the second time on the day, leveling up from his P3 results in race two to finish second in race three, while Chip Romer joined them in the podium in third. Louis Schriber finished a strong season in the Platinum class, finishing inside the top-five in fourth place. Gregg Gorski and his EVR Motorsports machine crossed the line in fifth place despite having to make an extra pit stop for a mechanical issue.

Jon Field is the 2024 Radical Cup North America Platinum Class Champion.
ONE Motorsports is the 2024 Radical Cup North America Platinum Team Champion.

Pro 1500
Nicholas d’Orlando had some trouble early on, all but handing the championship to Jordan Missig after he went on to take his second win in as many races. What started as a disastrous weekend for the Graham Rahal Performance driver, with a fire that forced him to borrow a car, turned out pretty good so far, with a pair of race wins and valuable championship points. Continuing to impress in their debut season, EVR Motorsports and Evan Slater were back on the podium in the second position, pushing Missig all the way until the checkered flag flew. Matt Romer (ONE Motorsports) celebrated on the third step of the podium, while Nicholas d’Orlando recovered to finish fourth en route to the second-fastest lap of the race. Jack Yang finished fifth in Pro 1500 but was the best of the Gold drivers for the second time in as many races.

RTD Media – Jeff Walrich

Overcoming all odds, Missig capped off a perfect weekend of wheel-to-wheel racing scoring his third victory of the weekend, and eventual Pro 1500 championship. With Evan Slater leading early, Missig sat in the second position waiting for the perfect opportunity. Biding his time and making his bid for the lead in the second half of the race, Missig moved to the point and managed to hold Slater off over the 24-lap affair. Slater had another strong showing and was rewarded with the second step on the podium ahead of Matt Romer. Nicholas d’Orlando had an issue early in the race and fell back into the clutches of the Pro 1340 leaders, but managed to work his way back forward to cross the line fourth, one position ahead of Cameron Racing’s Spencer Schmidt.

Jordan Missig is the 2024 Radical Cup North America Pro 1500 Class Champion.
Graham Rahal Performance is the 2024 Radical Cup North America Pro 1500 Team Champion.
Jack Yang is the 2024 Radical Cup North America Pro 1500 Gold Class Champion.

Pro 1340
An intense battle in Pro 1340 saw Chris McMurry (Crown Racing with Apex) led early from a hard-charging Suellio Almeida (Graham Rahal Performance), but an off-course excursion handed the lead to Almeida with 15 minutes to go. Losing pace as the race went on, McMurry was passed by his son Matt, who was eventually able to chase Almeida and sneak by in the late stages of the race to earn the win. Almeida finished ahead of Chris McMurry, his main championship protagonist in third to gain a few championship points on his rival, with the RYNO Racing with Team Stradale duo of Mike Anzaldi and Benjamin Blander finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.

Race three on the weekend for the Pro 1340 competitors was highlighted by team tactics as Crown Racing with Apex strategically positioned their drivers to give Chris McMurry a chance at victory. McMurry led at the mid-race point ahead of Matt McMurry and Anders Fjordbach, while GRP’s Suellio Almeida was fourth. After the pit stop cycle, Chris McMurry led but Almeida had moved into the second position, but was under pressure from Matt McMurry and Fjordbach. If positions finished this way, Almeida would win by five points, but 15 minutes remained.

Chris McMurry headed to pit lane from the lead to serve a penalty and all but gave up his quest for the championship despite returning to the track to finish in the fifth position. In the latter stages of the race, Almeida led from Fjordbach and Matt McMurry. Trying to keep them in his rearview mirror, Almeida lost traction and the lead but played it smart, thinking of the big picture. Allowing the two Crown Racing with Apex drivers into the top two positions, Fjordbach took the win with Matt McMurry in second. Almeida held the third position and did precisely what he needed to do to be crowned champion. Mike Anzaldi capped off his season with a fourth-place finish, just ahead of Pro 1340 Vice Champion Chris McMurry.

Suellio Almeida is the 2024 Radical Cup North America Pro 1340 Class Champion.
Crown Racing with Apex is the 2024 Radical Cup North America Pro 1340 Team Champion.
Nicholas d’Orlando is the 2024 Radical Cup North America Rookie of the Year.

“A great season has come to a close, and we have three more champions crowned,” said Tom Drewer. “Thank you, and congratulations to all who made the 2024 Radical Cup North America program a huge success. We will take a little break but begin our 2025 preparations next week, beginning with our schedule announcement. Stay tuned.”

Radical Cup North America events are open to local and regional Radical racers of all ages with eligible cars to participate. More information, including links to register for events and obtain licensing, can be found at www.radicalmotorsport.com. Stay tuned to the Radical Cup social media pages for the latest series news and updates.

Missig rebounds to win in Pro 1500, McMurry reduces Almeida’s lead in Pro 1340, Stephens dominates Platinum at Sonoma

After a trio of test sessions on Thursday, Friday was another jam-packed day with practice, qualifying, and the weekend’s first race for the Radical Cup North America finale. Ready to attack the Sonoma Raceway for the final three races of 2024, …

After a trio of test sessions on Thursday, Friday was another jam-packed day with practice, qualifying, and the weekend’s first race for the Radical Cup North America finale.

Ready to attack the Sonoma Raceway for the final three races of 2024, teams and competitors could fine-tune their machinery in the morning before the ever-important qualifying session set the grid for race one. When the checkered flag finally flew, Michai Stephens, Jordan Missig, and Chris McMurry topped the podium to start their weekend with victories.

“Another outstanding race, especially for Missig,” explained Radical Cup’s Tom Drewer. “To knuckle down like he did after switching cars and come out on top shows true grit. McMurry is now almost level in points with Almeida, who has some pace to find, and Stephens showed his class. Amazingly we enter the final day with all championships still up for grabs.”

Platinum Qualifying

Michai Stephens – 1:39.979
Jon Field – 1:37.804
Clint Field – 1:38.027
Louis Schriber – 1:38.239
Gregg Gorski – 1:38.278

Race #1

It has been Michai Stephens’ weekend so far in Sonoma as he piloted his RYNO Racing with Team Stradale entry to a race win from his pole position starting spot.

Turning the fastest race lap nearly two seconds quicker than his closest competitor, Stephens won by nearly 30 seconds over championship protagonist One Motorsports driver Jon Field. Field has been a fixture at the front of the pack throughout 2024 and will look to close his championship on a high in the final event weekend.

Behind Field, Group-A Racing’s Steve Jenks impressed with second place upon his return to the high-horsepower class, beating EVR Motorsports’ Louis Schriber and Esses Racing’s Wayne Williams to the podium.

Pro 1500 Qualifying

Nicholas d’Orlando – 1:38.959
Evan Slater – 1:39.019
Jordan Missig – 1:39.145
Matt Romer – 1;40.085
Corey Neveau – 1:40.383

Race #1

Continuing the fairy tale weekend that started with drama on Thursday and ended Friday with glory, Jordan Missig went from being on fire and fearing his championship hopes were dashed to scoring another Pro 1500 race win.

Missig piloted a new chassis, supplied by Radical Northwest, and hastily prepared by Graham Rahal Performance, to the race win. This extended his point lead with two races remaining. Fellow Graham Rahal Performance teammate and championship rival Nicholas d’Orlando finished second and celebrated on the second step of the podium keeping his championship hopes alive, with Evan Slater finishing third, keeping his title chances alive.

Finishing fourth and fifth on track, Matt Romer crossed the line fourth as Corey Neveau was fifth but led the Gold class on the results sheet. The Sunoco Hard Charger of the Race Award went to Spencer Schmidt, who changed an engine after qualifying, started at the tail of the field and drove his way forward.

Finishing seventh in class and 15th overall, Schmidt drove like a seasoned veteran, climbing his way up the results sheet and salvaging a solid result in the first wheel-to-wheel action of the weekend.

Pro 1340 Qualifying

Anders Fjordbach – 1:40.528
Matt McMurry – 1:40.814
Chris McMurry – 1:41.865
Suellio Almeida – 1:42.173
Benjamin Blander – 1:42.491

Race #1

A newcomer to the Radical Cup North America program but fast in whatever he races, Anders Fjordbach (Crown Racing) earned his first career series podium in his first series event.

Despite qualifying on the pole position, Fjordbach fell behind the McMurry duo of Matt and Chris McMurry (Crown Racing). Chris, who closed his championship point deficit to just two points with his victory, had a classic McMurry start picking off seven or eight cars and put them in maintenance mode from there. Driving to the win and a Crown Racing podium sweep, both the team championship and driver championship are all to play for in races two and three.

Graham Rahal Performance driver Suellio Almeida salvaged fourth to remain in command of the championship ahead of Mike Anzaldi (RYNO Racing with Team Stradale) in fifth.

With the final two wheel-to-wheel races of the season taking place on Saturday, champions will be crowned on Saturday evening during the annual awards banquet. Follow along all weekend through the Radical Motorsport YouTube page and Livestream HERE.

Radical Cup North America events are open to local and regional Radical racers of all ages with eligible cars to participate. More information, including links to register for events and obtain licensing, can be found at www.radicalmotorsport.com. Stay tuned to the Radical Cup social media pages for the latest series news and updates.

Drama for Pro 1500 point leader Missig as Crown Racing dominates Pro 1340 and Stephens reigns on Thursday of Championship Weekend

All season long, teams and competitors in the Radical Cup North America program have been working hard to get to this weekend. With the championship finale now here, and a test day in the books, the 2024 title chase will end in less than 48 hours. …

All season long, teams and competitors in the Radical Cup North America program have been working hard to get to this weekend. With the championship finale now here, and a test day in the books, the 2024 title chase will end in less than 48 hours. Taking on Sonoma Raceway, on track action heated up as Pro 1500 championship hopeful Jordan Missig had a drama-filled day, one that could affect a year’s worth of hard work.

Platinum
In two test sessions leading into the first official practice of the weekend, Michai Stephens (RYNO Racing with Team Stradale) and Chip Romer (ONE Motorsports) led the way. Louis Schriber (EVR Motorsports) and Wayne Williams (ESSES Racing) also appeared in the top-three, but it was Stephens who topped the charts at the end of the day. The RYNO Racing with Team Stradale driver scored a quick time of 1m35.981s to lead Steve Jenks (Group-A Racing) and Jon Field (One Motorsports) at the top of the charts. It was another ONE Motorsports driver in the fourth position as Chip Romer looks like he has what it takes to challenge for a podium result in the season’s final weekend. Williams and Schriber beat Gregg Gorski in the final session of the day to finish fifth through seventh on the results sheet.

Pro 1500
Matt Romer (ONE Motorsports) and Bobby Thompson (Group-A Racing) led the way in the two unofficial test sessions but when official practice got underway, it was Evan Slater who found his way to the top of the charts. Graham Rahal Performance’s Jordan Missig had a hot afternoon as a large fire at the back of his machine brought the session to a halt and put his championship chase on hold. An engine failure led to an oil fire, and extensive damage was done. With no backup car, the team would work hard to see what they could do to get back on track as other teams offered parts and support to keep Missig’s championship hopes alive.

Outfitted in an all-white machine, Missig and GRP team had borrowed a car to get back on track and would take the session to get up to speed. Evan Slater (EVR Motorsports) found his way to the top of the charts and lay claim to the fastest Pro 1500 lap of the session with GRP’s Nick d’Orlando and another championship hopeful P2 in the day’s final session.

As the story continued, Missig slowly got up to speed in his new ride, and early on in the session, he was seconds off the fastest Pro 1500 lap. Fast-forward to when the checkered flag flew, Missig had clocked the third-fastest time, only 1.5s behind the fastest driver in his class in a car he was unfamiliar with, a massive accomplishment for him and the team. Matt Romer and Cameron Racing Radical Northwest’s Spencer Schmidt rounded out the top-five and will look to fight for a podium result on Friday.

Pro 1340
Announced Thursday morning and making his first Radical Cup North America start, Anders Fjordbach and his Crown Racing with Apex entry topped both Pro 1340 test sessions. Matt and Chris McMurry saw the Crown contingent seep all three top spots in both test sessions as they keep their eye on both the team and driver championship.

Matt Murry prevailed in the official practice session, keeping Crown Racing with Apex at the top of the charts in Pro 1340 with Fjordbach falling to second. A new driver and team appeared in the top-three as Suellio Almedia was able to edge out Chis McMurry for the third position the elder McMurry kept ahead of the fifth-place finisher of Mike Anzaldi (RYNO Racing with Team Stradale).

With another practice session scheduled for Friday morning, qualifying will follow with the first wheel-to-wheel race later in the day. Saturday will feature races two and three on the weekend with champions crowned on Saturday afternoon. Follow along all weekend long via the Radical Motorsport YouTube page and live stream HERE.

Radical Cup North America events are open to local and regional Radical racers of all ages with eligible cars to participate. More information, including links to register for events and obtain licensing, can be found at www.radicalmotorsport.com. Stay tuned to the Radical Cup social media pages for the latest series news and updates.

 

Radical Cup to be decided this weekend at Sonoma

Once again, all three classes class in the Radical Cup North America program have come down to the wire. This year it’s Sonoma Raceway, nestled in the heart of California’s Wine Country, that will see the champions crowned. Jordan Missig, Nick …

Once again, all three classes class in the Radical Cup North America program have come down to the wire. This year it’s Sonoma Raceway, nestled in the heart of California’s Wine Country, that will see the champions crowned. Jordan Missig, Nick d’Orlando, and Even Slater will duke it out for the outright and Pro 1500 championships. Eyes will also be on Jack Yang to see if he can fend off local Corey Neveau for Gold 1500 honors. The question remains if sim star Suellio Almeida can claim Pro 1340 over Chris McMurry, while the Platinum class will also be one to watch as Jon Field attempts to take back-to-back championships.

“What a year,” said Radical Motorsports’ Tom Drewer. “Over 65 drivers have taken part, with six nationalities represented. Over 15 teams have put cars on the track, with more than 30 entries each weekend and amazingly, yet again, all the championships will be decided at the season finale.”

Platinum

Jon Field (ONE Motorsports) enters the weekend as the championship point leader but will need a trio of solid races to stay on top and take home the title. Louis Schriber (EVR Motorsports) sits 53 points in arrears of Field, and only 34 markers ahead of Chip Romer (One Motorsports), who’s in third. One Motorsports puts three drivers in the top-four of the championship standings entering the famed Sonoma Raceway with Clint Field only 19 points behind Romer and eight markers ahead of the Esses Racing driver of Wayne Williams. While those five competitors look to battle for the title and race wins in Napa County, they will be joined by 2024 race winner Michai Stephens (RYNO Racing with Team Stradale), EVR Motorsports drivers Jim Booth and Gregg Gorski as well as Group-A Racing’s Steve Jenks.

In the Platinum class team championship, ONE Motorsports has a commanding lead by more than 120 points over their next closest competitor EVR Motorsports, while Esses Racing is just 94 markers behind EVR in P3.

Pro 1500

The Pro 1500 Championship will go down to the wire as three drivers sit within 40 points of one another with the top two separated by only eight. Graham Rahal Performance with Radical Indianapolis will have a pair of dogs in the fight as Jordan Missig and Nick d’Orlando sit first and second and are favored for the title. With no team orders in play, it could open the door for the EVR Motorsports driver of Evan Slater in third. Slater would need to be aggressive and beat both drivers throughout the weekend to earn the title, but anything is possible. Spencer Schmidt (Cameron Racing) is the best of the rest, sitting fourth in the points table, but more than 100 points behind the front three and 48 ahead of Jack Yang in fifth.

While the pair of GRP drivers are favored for the title, they will be up against some stiff competition from the local Cameron Racing outfit. Joining the local team this weekend in an effort to fight for the podium is Amit Patel, Arul Venkatesh, Bob Mueller and Corey Neveau. The latter is just 24 points behind Jack Yang in the Gold class, and hopes his hometown advantage will do the trick. Ron Fletcher, along with Matt Romer and Chris Hinojosa from the ONE Motorsports camp, is also throwing his hat into the mix.

In the Pro 1500 team championship, Graham Rahal Performance with Radical Indianapolis has been the dominant team in most events, but EVR Motorsports is keeping them honest in the second position. GRP is on top by 106 points, while Cameron Racing with Radical Northwest sits in third, 98 points behind EVR Motorsports.

Pro 1340

The Pro 1340 championship battle is almost as tight as Pro 1500 as Graham Rahal Performance with Radical Indianapolis has a chance to claim both titles. Suellio Almeida enters the weekend with his GRP entry atop the point standings, but only by 15 over the consistently fast Crown Racing with Apex driver Chris McMurry. GRP puts a pair of drivers in the top three in points after 15 of 18 races with Kenny Naill 19 points ahead of RYNO with Team Stradale’s Benjamin Blander. The top four in the championship are all confirmed for Sonoma, but they will be joined by a few dark horses including Englishman Alex Fisher (RYNO with Team Stradale), Matt McMurry and Anders Fjordbach, both out of the Crown stable.

Crown Concepts with Apex Motor Club enters the final event on the calendar with a 119-point gap over Graham Rahal Performance with Radical Indianapolis. The Indy-based program sits a mere four points ahead of RYNO with Team Stradale and three wheel-to-wheel races left in the schedule.

In the Radical Cup North America Rookie of the Year honors, Nick d’Orlando has a 32-point margin over Evan Slater, with Suellio Almeida in third place.

In the outright series championship battle, Missig leads d’Orlando, Slater, Almeida, and Jon Field as only 96 points separate the top-five.

With championship weekend on the horizon, competitors will hit the track Thursday for a pair of test sessions before the first official practice of the weekend. Friday will feature practice two, qualifying, and race one, while the season will conclude on Saturday with races two and three prior to the Awards banquet at Turn 11. All three races will be live streamed on Radical Motorsport’s YouTube channel. Stay tuned to the Radical Cup North America social media pages for news, information, photos, and results from the event weekend.

Radical Cup North America events are open to local and regional Radical racers of all ages with eligible cars to participate. More information, including links to register for events and obtain licensing, can be found at www.radicalmotorsport.com. Stay tuned to the Radical Cup social media pages for the latest series news and updates.

Radical Cup Canada West wraps with record grid

A record-setting 23 cars participated in the 2024 Radical Cup Canada West series finale at Area 27 Motorsports Park this weekend, September 20-21. After clinching the outright championship in the penultimate round, Paul Buchmann again displayed his …

A record-setting 23 cars participated in the 2024 Radical Cup Canada West series finale at Area 27 Motorsports Park this weekend, September 20-21. After clinching the outright championship in the penultimate round, Paul Buchmann again displayed his dominance, as did Dan Viskari in the Masters class.

With Buchmann and Chris Beith confirmed as the top two in the overall driver’s championship heading into the weekend, all eyes were on Warren Brown, Andrew Dobbie, Dave Saruk and Danny Chase and their four-way fight for third.

The large grid led to a congested qualifying session, which saw Buchmann (2m00.820s) claim yet another pole, however he was only two tenths clear of Chris Beith (2m01.049s), whose late lap caught out Stephan Rzadzinski (2m01.612s). Fourth quickest, Max Lytvyn (2m01.712s) was another stand out for the session, as was the fastest Masters driver Dan Viskari (2m01.742s). And crucially for Brown (2m02.188s) he’d outqualified his rivals with sixth on the grid.

Saturday’s race saw a champion’s performance from Buchmann, who cruised to his eighth win of the season, while Beith was equally comfortable in solidifying second.

Disaster struck Lytvyn as he approached turn 3 for the first time, finding the marbles, which elevated Rzadzinski to third and Viskari to fourth. That pair then engaged in a battle which Viskari won on lap seven with a lunge into the center hairpin, and once clear Viskari checked out to take third outright and the Masters class win.

Warren fended off Chase to take fifth, gaining the crucial points he needed to secure third in the championship, while Sonny Andrews held off a racy Will Lin to secure seventh, with Andrew Vilcsak in ninth.

Further back Jay Esterer showed a solid defense before a run by Brian Archer into Turn 1 caught Esterer by surprise, and eventually teammate Peter followed suit. Lytvyn’s day went from bad to worse with a spin, while Brian Archer reeled in Saruk and made a last lap pass for tenth.

With the championship wrapped up, Radical Canada West’s John Hughes rewarded Paul Buchmann with a drive in a 430bhp SR10 XXR for the final race of the season, and as a courtesy to his fellow competitors, Buchmann started from pitlane.

This left Chris Beith to lead the field to the green, with a three way fight quickly developing between Beith, Dan Viskari and Danny Chase. Viskari fell victim to Chase, who then closed in on Beith, while a charging Stefan Rzadzinski closed in on the top three. Meanwhile Will Lin engaged Jay Esterer in a strong battle, and Andrew Dobbie commenced his charge forward, passing Sonny Andrews.

The fight behind Beith then changed once again with Danny Chase falling back to fourth, and Viskari looking threatening while Rzadzinski also closed in. But Chase got the better of Rzadzinski, and not even a big lunge through turn 13 was enough for Rzadzinski to claim a top three. Those honors were left to Chase in third and Viskari in second behind an unshakable Chris Beith who, having lead every lap, took his third win of the year in significant style. Behind them, Buchmann had clawed his way up to fifth, showing the might of the SR10.

Jay Esterer initially ran as high has sixth, but that started to unravel when Will Lin made a definitive pass into the turn 12 hairpin, with Sonny Andrews soon attempting his own dive into the highspeed kink of 13 which wasn’t to be. Warren Brown had also been in the mix, and found himself in sixth with two tours remaining before Andrew Dobbie claimed six after relegating Brown to seventh and Will Lin to eighth. Jay Esterer and Sonny Andrews rounded out the top ten.

Viskari’s outright second place finish gave him his ninth Masters win of the season– the perfect end to his title winning campaign. John Hughes was second in the Masters points, with Reinhold Krahn third.

As for the outright class, Warren Brown claimed third place honors, Chris Beith finished runner up, and Paul Buchmann lifted the Radical Area 27 Club Champion’s trophy for the third time in four years.

“The racing in the Radical Cup Canada West was spectacular this weekend,” commented Radical Motorsport’s Tom Drewer who was onsite to witness the action. “The ever-growing field, camaraderie, competition and the clean racing is a testament to the stewardship of Radical Canada West’s John Hughes along with Area 27 President Bill Drossos and Race Director Kees Nierop. We can’t wait for even more record grids in 2025.”

2025 model year updates for the Radical SR3 XXR and SR10 XXR

Radical has engineered a number of upgrades for its model year 25 (MY25) race cars. This includes several new features and options for the SR XXR model range, allowing customers the opportunity to secure their 2025 season race car at 2024 pricing. …

Radical has engineered a number of upgrades for its model year 25 (MY25) race cars. This includes several new features and options for the SR XXR model range, allowing customers the opportunity to secure their 2025 season race car at 2024 pricing.

Unveiled in a unique Daytona Green hue, with complementing green details to further underline its customization abilities, this latest one-of-one Radical SR10 XXR will not go unnoticed in the paddock. The team at the Cambridgeshire, UK factory has ticked every box on the options list to highlight the new MY25 upgrades, which focus on key themes of safety, reliability, performance and personalization.

Safety
Putting safety first, new seating options have been launched for both SR3 XXR and SR10 XXR. An all-new carbon single seat has been designed in-house by the Radical research and development team in response to customer feedback. This was primarily driven by a demand in the USA where this specification is popular, and sees the new seat feature an integrated wrap-around headrest and made of pre-impregnated carbon fiber, resulting in a seat that is both stronger and lighter than its GRP predecessor. The carbon single seat is available on left-hand drive, right-hand drive and centre-hand drive configurations.

For drivers who prefer the twin seat option, to enable in-car driver coaching or exhilarating passenger rides, occupant safety has been further enhanced by the addition of strategically placed Kevlar inserts and stronger seat mounts and bracketry. For all seating options, new and improved harnesses have improved driver comfort while adding further personalization options with the introduction of four different color choices.

Reliability
Responding to customer feedback, the Radical Motorsport team is continuously looking to improve the reliability of an already proven formula, using advanced computer modelling to verify areas of potential weakness, and then testing modifications in both virtual and real-world environments prior to deployment. For example, a redesigned bellhousing on the SR10 XXR was based on simulated stress tests and now significantly reduces the chance of cracking. Similarly, by reverse engineering the carbon fiber front splitter, the latest version has adopted new production techniques and aerospace-grade epoxy resin, to create a component that is both more durable and offers a better fitment than the outgoing version.

Performance
In a world where milliseconds matter on the track, Radical Motorsport has applied its vast engineering knowledge of aerodynamics to shave more milliseconds off lap times by simply altering the radius of the SR10 XXR sidepods. The result may only be a 2.5 per cent shift in balance towards the front axle but when traveling at 160 mph (258 kph) this is amplified to 11.5 per cent more frontal load, which translates to a crucial reduction in understeer and tire scrub in high-speed corners.

Likewise, by changing the ratio on the steering rack from 1:43:1 to 1:71:1 there’s less effort required by the driver, reducing fatigue and increasing both comfort and enjoyment.

A new lightweight flywheel and clutch will also benefit SR10 XXR owners, providing quicker blip response and smoother downshifts, which in turn reduces rear axle shift-locking and shortens brake zone duration.

Personalization
Radical offers a number of personalization options that do not impact the performance of the car but allow them to stand out in the paddock and bring a customer’s dream to reality. In addition to the custom bodywork colors, lightweight Braid wheels can be painted to compliment the body color. Inside, the driver can now select from a number of different color harnesses. Additional customization options include a custom designed livery which can be applied at the factory. Once complete, and quality inspected, the finished car is taken for a photoshoot before being shipped to its final destination, which could be one of 20+ countries via a 30+ strong Radical dealer network.

2025 ready
These MY25 updates further enhance the ownership experience of the world’s best-selling purpose-built race cars. SR3 XXR and SR10 XXR share multiple common updates, along with model-specific features responding to worldwide customer feedback. As the seasons draw to a close for the Radical Cup North America, Emzone Radical Cup Canada, Radical Cup Canada West and Autobahn Radical Cup Challenge Illinois, drivers can order cars to start preparing for 2025, while it’s possible for drivers commencing their seasons in the Apex Radical Cup Challenge Arizona and Spring Mountain Radical Cup Challenge Nevada to upgrade now. Visit www.radicalmotorsport.com for more information.

Deonarine goes three-for-three in Toronto while Field wins again in Platinum

Returning to the Streets of Toronto, it was an aggressive opening lap that led to a disastrous turn one for the start of the Radical Cup’s third race of the weekend. This set the tone for the rest of the race. With several drivers out of contention …

Returning to the Streets of Toronto, it was an aggressive opening lap that led to a disastrous turn one for the start of the Radical Cup’s third race of the weekend.

This set the tone for the rest of the race. With several drivers out of contention early, the door was opened for others to take advantage, but only seven laps of green flag action did not allow for a lot of passing. With Toronto now in the books, the series shifts the focus to the final event of the 2024 season at the Sonoma Raceway in Napa, California.

“We love racing in Toronto as the city and promoter are welcoming to our efforts,” explained Tom Drewer. “Although this is our final race alongside the IndyCar sereis this year, we are looking forward to capping off our 2024 season in Sonoma and announcing our much-anticipated 2025 schedule.”

Platinum

Winning race two on Saturday, Jon Field returned on Sunday to cap off a double-winning weekend.

Jumping to the lead early in the race dominated by yellow flags, Field controlled the pace when he needed to and earned his second trip to the top step of the podium. Behind him, Chip Romer capped off a triple-podium weekend by finishing second with Louis Schriber ending his event with his best result of the weekend in third.

Friday’s race winner Wayne Williams closed his best weekend of the season with a P4 result with Kevin Poitras rounding out the top-five in fifth.

Pro 1500

With Jordan Missig winning races one and two in Toronto, it was his Graham Rahal Performance (GRP) teammate Nick d’Orlando who made it a perfect weekend for the Radical Indianapolis dealer. Missig finished the race in second to make it a GRP one-two yet again, as EVR Motorsports driver Evan Slater earned another podium result in third. Spencer Schmidt had another strong showing for Cameron Racing, earning another top-five finish, just ahead of the Gold class winner Corey Neveau in the fourth position.

Pro 1340

Going three-for-three on the weekend, Mayer Deonarine put the RySpec Racing #244 on the top step of the podium for the third time this weekend.

Dominating the Pro 1340 class and scoring maximum points available, Deonarine had a career weekend as he has come into his own as of late.

Behind him, it was the Graham Rahal Performance #03 machine of Suellio Almeida. Almeida earned a trio of podium results while Seth Bacon overcame a first corner, first lap spin, to drive back up and finish on the podium in third.

Mike Anzaldi looked to be in contention for a podium finish until a late race shootout that featured a one-lap dash to the finish. Anzaldi dropped the running order as the door opened for Ibby Hadeed and Kenny Naill to slip through and finish fourth and fifth, respectively.

RCC 1340

Much like Mayer Deonarine did in Pro 1340, Kenny Riedmann scored three wins in three races in the RCC 1340 class.

Untouchable all weekend long, Riedmann was the class of the field, earning the fastest lap in his class in both races one and two, and topping the podium blocks on all three occasions.

Travis Hill was the best of the rest, finishing second and Chris Styles finished third. Owen Clarke nipped Hill and Riedmann for the fastest lap of the race in race three as he crossed the stripe in fourth as Brady Clapham rounded out the top-five.

RCC Masters

A race that saw several drivers out on the opening lap opened the door for others and RCC Master driver Robert Burgess took full advantage of the opportunity.

Taking the win in race three, Burgess was joined on the podium by Daniel Earle and Liang Qiu in second and third. Jon Sobol and Tim Sanderson were classified fourth and fifth, despite Sanderson only completing one race lap.

Next up for Radical Cup North America will be the final event of the season over the September 26-28 weekend at the famed Sonoma Raceway.