Category: Radical Cup

Radical Cup North America arrives at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca this weekend with a new points leader. Sim racer turned Radical rookie Suellio Almeida leads the Pro 1340 points battle after taking three wins at Road America. Meanwhile, in Pro 1500, fellow Graham Rahal Performance driver Nick d’Orlando has closed to be within just three points of teammate Jordan Missig, Jack Yang has taken over top honors in the Gold class, and Clint Field heads the Platinum points to start the second half of the season. This weekend marks the fourth straight event of a 30-plus strong field, as the series joins the NTT IndyCar series for the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey.

“With half the season gone, the championship battles are raging in all three classes,” said Radical’s Tom Drewer. “This year has seen a big influx in participation and an even bigger step up in competition due to the caliber of young guns and veteran drivers coming into the Radical Cup.”

Nine cars this weekend will come from the Pro 1340 class, five of which will come from the Crown Concepts with Apex Motor Club stable. Chris McMurry will be attempting to take back the points lead, while the father and son duo of Blake and Keith McGovern again search for podium results as they did at Road America just one week ago. Mike Ellis and Evan Wolf will also throw their hats into the mix to aid the Crown team, which currently leads the Pro 1340 Team Championship. New points leader Brazilian Suellio Almeida will be hoping to extend his four-race winning streak with his No.3 Graham Rahal Performance-prepared machine, and will be joined by teammate Kenny Naill. Currently sitting third in points, Benjamin Blander will this weekend be joined by fellow RYNO Racing with Team Stradale driver Mike Anzaldi, who returns to Pro 1340 after a heavy crash sidelined his SR3 1500 car.

Pro 1500 has been dominated by Graham Rahal Performance drivers so far in 2024, but the fight between Missig and d’Orlando has tightened after d’Orlando took two more wins at Road America, while Missig suffered an unusual spate of mishaps and bad luck. Looking to knock them off the pedestal will be the likes of One Motorsports pilot Matt Romer, Racing With Autism’s Austin Riley, and the Cameron Racing’s full season trio of Arul Venkatesh, Spencer Schmidt, and Corey Neveau. Fresh off a win at Road America, Group-A Racing’s Jack Yang will be one to watch at Laguna Seca, as will EVR’s Evan Slater who appears to be on the cusp of a win after finishing runner-up twice at Road America.

Steve Jenks returns to the series with Group-A this weekend, although not in the high-horsepowered SR10 machinery that he’s been used to in recent seasons, while Australian Richard McDougall and Brian Antle will join the series for the first time this year.

The fastest class on the weekend will be the Platinum ranks as 10 drivers will fight for glory. Sitting first and second in points, ONE Motorsports drivers Clint and Jon Field have been the stars of the class so far this season battling week in and week out for the top step of the podium, but they have been pushed hard by EVR Motorsports’ Louis Schriber each and every weekend. Chip Romer, in his ONE Motorsports machine, has been a threat as has EVR’s Jim Booth and Gregg Gorski. Cameron Racing will see Californian Jeff Ramsey also join the fray this weekend.

It will be a quick three-day weekend in California as Radical Cup competitors will hit the track on Friday for practice with three wheel-to-wheel races over the weekend. Be sure to tune into qualifying and all the racing action this weekend on the Radical Motorsport YouTube page HERE and follow 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.

Kinetic 7 has signed on as the title sponsor for the third Radical World Finals at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

Kinetic 7, a global leader in clean-burning cooking technology, has recently made remarkable advancements in sustainable innovation. Its latest breakthrough enables cooking by extracting hydrogen from water, a technology particularly beneficial for the developing world where access to electricity is often limited or unreliable.

Operating from its office in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), Kinetic 7 has introduced a portable stove that functions independently of the grid. This innovation is critical for regions with sporadic or no electricity supply.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Radical World Finals in Abu Dhabi,” said Rick Parish, Founder and CEO of Kinetic 7, and Radical racer and the owner of Relentless Racing.

“As this is our home, we are eager to contribute to the growth and development of local motorsport. There’s no better venue for this than the incredible Yas Marina Circuit, with the global Radical racing community coming here.”

The partnership with Kinetic 7 not only brings cutting-edge technology to the forefront but also ensures that the event highlights the prowess of Radical racing from around the globe, showcasing it in the UAE. The Kinetic 7 Radical World Finals will be broadcast live on the Radical Motorsport YouTube channel.

“It’s nearly 20 years to the day, back in early 2005, when Radical racing had its first event here in the UAE,” said Martin Hope of GulfSport Racing (Radical UAE).

“At that time, it was also under global scrutiny, being part of the A1GP event in Dubai, which was one of the world’s biggest motorsport events of that era. The Kinetic 7 Radical World Finals will be attracting teams and drivers from all over the world, and thanks to this partnership, we can really showcase it to the wider global following that Radical Motorsport has.”

After two successful World Finals in Las Vegas (2022) and Portimao (2023), drivers from across the globe and Radical’s 14 Cup Championships can once again compete for the ultimate title at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

The World Finals is now open to all Radical customers worldwide, with no qualification necessary. The event will commence on Wednesday, 6th November, with a track walk and welcome reception, followed by optional test sessions on 7th November for drivers to familiarize themselves with the circuit.

Friday, 8th November, offers additional optional testing opportunities for those new to the 5.2km Tilke-designed circuit, before the official practice session later that afternoon.

Qualifying and the first two heat races are scheduled for Saturday, 9th November, with the final heat race and the highly anticipated Radical World Finals race taking place on Sunday, 10th November. The event will conclude with an awards dinner and gala that evening at the W Hotel, allowing drivers and teams to reflect on their week in the United Arab Emirates.

Arrive & Drive packages are available through Radical UAE and various teams in both the UK and UAE, the Radical factory will also be providing a fleet of SR10 XXR models under a Works Team banner. Radical Factory technical support and spares will be available throughout the event, ensuring that all participants can perform at their best.

For full event information and to register your place please click here.

Questions or media enquiries please email here.

 

From rain and wind to beautiful clear blue skies and sunshine, Radical Cup North America concluded their race weekend with round three at the famed Road America. With two wheel-to-wheel races in the books that featured several double race winners, Sunday would pose a new element to the weekend with the mandatory pit stop that would add a twist to the third and final race.

In the Platinum class, it was an epic battle up front and there was no love lost between the father-and-son duo of Jon and Clint Field (ONE Motorsports) as they went wheel-to-wheel with clean, but hard racing. In the end, Jon Field was able to find his way to the point and score yet another win this season and extend his championship point lead.

Louis Schriber (EVR Motorsports) took advantage of the Fields battling to close the gap to the front duo. Close to the end of the race Schriber slipped by Clint Field for the second step on the podium with Clint coming home third. Jim Booth (EVR Motorsports) had one of his best drives of the weekend in the McDonald-sponsored car to finish fourth with Chip Romer (ONE Motorsports) rounding out the top-five.

Jack Yang (Group-A Racing) topped the Pro 1500 class in the 17-lap race three as he was the fastest driver in the class and used that to his advantage to score the win. Celebrating on the top step of the podium, Yang had one of his career-best weekends in Radical Cup competition and capped it off in style. Behind him, Evan Slater (EVR Motorsports) and Nick d’Orlando (GRP) rounded out the podium with the top-three finishing within three seconds of one another.

Spencer Schmidt (Cameron Racing) was the best of the rest earning a P4 result, while championship hopeful and 2024 multi-time race winner Jordan Missig (GRP), who pulled double duty on the weekend competing in INDY NXT as well, finished fifth.

Scoring his third race win of the weekend, Suellio Almeida (GRP) capped off a perfect weekend in his debut with Graham Rahal Performance. Not putting a wheel wrong all weekend young, the sim-racer turned on-track racer earned three trips to the top step of the podium in a career-best weekend.

Mayer Deonarine (RySpec Racing) made a trip to the podium in the second position while Chris McMurry (CROWN with APEX) scored his third trip to the box in as many days backing up his second-place finish in the wet Saturday, with another solid result on Sunday. Jace Bacon (CROWN with APEX) had his turn at the front through the pitstop cycle but was fourth at the checkered flag, just ahead of his father Seth Bacon (CROWN with APEX) in fifth.

“We had everything this weekend,” explained Tom Drewer. “Rain, wind, cold, and sun, but in the end, we had great racing action in front of a packed house of INDYCAR fans at one of the best tracks that North America has to offer.”

Next up for Radical Cup North America is a trip across the country to the famed Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca over the June 21-23 weekend.

With a test day in the books on Thursday that featured three on-track sessions for all drivers, all attention turned to yesterday afternoon’s qualifying for the Radical Cup North America program with wheel-to-wheel racing to follow. Taking on the picturesque 4.014-mile, 14-turn Road America, Jon Field turned a monster lap in the Platinum class to earn the pole position, while Jack Yang edged Jordan Missig for top honors in Pro 1500. Mike D’Ambrose Sr. laid the hammer down in Pro 1340 to take the inside front-row class starting position.

“It has been windy here the last couple of days, which has caused some issues on track, but the teams and competitors in the Radical Cup North America program are adjusting,” said Tom Drewer. “We had a great qualifying session, and I am confident we will see some close racing later this afternoon.”

Platinum
Qualifying
Jon Field – (One Motorsports)
Louis Schriber – (EVR Motorsports)
Jim Booth – (EVR Motorsports)
Chip Romer – (One Motorsports)
Gregg Gorski – (EVR Motorsports)

Race
Maintaining his position at the front of the field, Jon Field took the lead from the drop of the green flag and never looked back. Despite a caution on lap four to retrieve the car of Wayne Williams, Field was able to overcome a restart to keep his rivals at bay. Chip Romer advanced from fourth to second early on as he looked racy, while Louis Schriber was just ahead of Clint Field in fourth. Jim Booth fell from third to fifth early on as he looked to fight for a podium result.

Jon Field led from the drop of the green flag until a gearbox failure forced him to the sideline and out of the race. Opening the door for Romer, the No. 5 One Motorsports entry cycled to the lead until the caution flag flew again. Leading the field back to the green, white, and checkered, Romer lost the lead to Clint Field on the final circuit. Field led only one lap, and it was the last lap, to steal the win with Romer in second and Schriber in third. Jim Booth was able to advance to finish fourth, with Gregg Gorski slotting into the fifth position.

Pro 1500
Qualifying
Jack Yang – (Group-A Racing)
Jordan Missig – (Graham Rahal Performance)
Nick d’Orlando – (Graham Rahal Performance)
Spencer Schmidt – (Cameron Racing)
Evan Slater – (EVR Motorsports)

Race
It was pole position winner Jack Yang, who led early in the 40-minute Pro 1500 race after earning one of his best starting positions in the past few seasons. Competing year-after-year, Yang finally put it all together to take the elusive pole position and took advantage of his inside front- row starting position to keep ahead of Graham Rahal Performance driver Jordan Missig.

Successfully holding the lead after a pair of caution periods, Yang held Missig behind him while Missig was ahead of Spencer Schmidt and Evan Slater, who were both able to get around Nick d’Orlando. Another caution period slowed the pace but when it went back green, it was d’Orlando who moved his way forward, gaining three positions to run second behind Yang. He kept the pressure on and much like Clint Field in Platinum, d’Orlando was able to take the lead on the final restart, getting by Yang, and driving to the win. Yang, after leading the majority of the laps, would have to settle for the second step on the podium with Missig in third.

Spencer Schmidt and Evan Slater would battle in the top-five all race long and eventually finish fourth and fifth, respectively. The Gold class winner was Jack Yang while Richard Durocher was the Sunoco Hard Charger.

Pro 1340
Qualifying
Mike D’Ambrose Sr. – (RYNO with Team Stradale)
Suellio Almeida – (Graham Rahal Performance)
Mayer Deonarine – (RySpec Racing)
Chris McMurry – (CROWN with APEX)
Seth Bacon – (CROWN with APEX)

Race
In Pro 1340, it was the Jace Bacon show as he gained five positions to run third with five minutes to go. Returning to the series after a brief hiatus, Bacon ran third behind Suellio Almeida and multi-time winner Chris McMurry. Almeida, in his debut with Graham Rahal Performance, drove to the win as McMurry took advantage of some late race restarts to move into the second position and extend his championship point lead. Blake McGovern got by Bacon on the final lap to nab the final step on the podium with Bacon having to settle for the fourth position, just ahead of Pro 1340 pole position winner Mike D’Ambrose Sr.

“What a race. A few cautions kept the pack close and the drivers on their toes,” said Drewer. “Epic battles in all three classes, and a fantastic win for Suellio Almeida, along with d’Orlando and Clint Field.”

Be sure to follow 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.

The excitement is building as the Radical World Finals 2024 are set to take place at the iconic Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi from Nov. 6-10. This prestigious event will bring together Radical racers from around the world for a thrilling display of speed, precision, and competition.

Drivers from across the globe and Radical’s 14 Cup Championships will compete for the ultimate title, pushing their limits and demonstrating their expertise in Radical’s signature race cars. This event promises to be a highlight of Radical’s motorsport calendar, offering an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

The father-son duo of Barry and Martin Hope, who head Radical UAE/GulfSport Racing, have been pivotal in establishing and growing the Radical market across the Gulf region for nearly two decades. Their dedication led to the inception of the Gulf Radical Cup in 2005, a series that has since become one of the most popular official Radical Championships worldwide. The Gulf Radical Cup’s early season schedule aligns perfectly with the World Finals, offering a unique opportunity for racers to extend their stay and maximize their racing calendar.

In partnership with the spectacular W Hotel Abu Dhabi – Yas Island, a very attractive room rate, which includes half-board has been offered to entered competitors, their teams, and supporters. The W Hotel offers stunning views of the circuit, has multiple dining options and has direct access to the paddock via a foot bridge over the track. Radical highly recommends booking the half-board option at the W Hotel, where you can enjoy lunch on the terrace overlooking the circuit in-between all the track action.

The World Finals will be open to all Radical customers worldwide, with no qualification necessary. The event kicks off on Wednesday November 6, with a track walk and welcome reception, followed by optional test sessions on November 7 for the drivers to get to grips with the circuit.

Friday, Nov. 8 provides more opportunity for optional testing, for those unfamiliar with the 3.2-mile Tilke-designed circuit, before the official practice session later that afternoon.

Qualifying and the first two heat races will take place on Saturday, Nov. 9, with the final heat race and the all-important Radical World Finals race on Sunday, Nov. 10. The event will conclude by an awards dinner and gala that evening at the W Hotel, which gives drivers and teams the chance to reflect on their week in the United Arab Emirates.

Arrive & Drive packages are available through Radical UAE and various teams in both the UK and UAE, the Radical factory will also be providing a fleet of SR10 XXR models under a Works Team banner.

Factory technical support and spares will be available throughout the event, ensuring that all participants can perform at their best.

Full details of entry fees and event information are available at www.gulfradicalcup.com where participants can now register for the third Radical World Finals. Any enquiries about the 2024 Radical World Finals at Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi please email us here.

With back-to-back races featuring more than 35 drivers, Radical Cup North America heads to the Dairy State this weekend to take on the 14-turn, 4.048-mile Road America, supporting IndyCar’s XPEL Grand Prix presented by AMR. With 36 drivers on the entry list, including 15 competitors in the Pro 1340 category, championship battles begin to take shape as the series reaches the mid-season point.

“Last year, Road America was one of our most exciting events with close finishes, a ton of on-track passes, and some spectacular racing,” said Tom Drewer. “And with increased competition in all three classes this year, Radical Cup will provide the IndyCar fans with even more to cheer about.”

The Pro 1340 class is 15 drivers strong, with seven of them coming with the Team Championship leading Crown with APEX camp. Multi-time winner Chris McMurry will lead the team into Elkhart Lake, Wis., with the father and son duo of Blake and Keith McGovern who showed a ton of speed at Barber Motorsports Park. Evan Wolf and Mike Ellis will also fly the CROWN with the APEX flag and Jace Bacon joins his father Seth, pulling double-duty this weekend in USF2000.

Not to be outdone, RYNO with Team Stradale brings six to Road America, including a bunch of new names to the Radical Cup North America program. Benjamin Blander will pilot the No. 34 entry as he will race alongside Alon Kim, father and son Mike D’Ambrose Jr. and Sr., as well as Adam Gagne. Making a move to the Graham Rahal Performance program, 2024 podium winner Suellio Almedia will join Kenny Naill in the new Indianapolis-based effort, while Mayer Deonarine will pilot the lone RySpec Racing entry in Pro 1340.

The ultra-competitive Pro 1500 class will feature a ton of young talent, including Jordan Missig and Nicholas d’Orlando in the multi-time race-winning Graham Rahal Performance outfit. Cameron Racing will bring a trio of Pro 1500 competitors, including the young Spencer Schmidt, son of IndyCar team owner Sam Schmidt, Arul Venkatesh, and Corey Neveau. Evan Slater, who impressed at Barber Motorsports Park, will fly the EVR Motorsports colors, while Austin Riley will be another to look out for in the 13 strong field.

Group-A Racing will be back looking to add to its results with Jack Zweifel and Jack Yang, the latter who will compete in the Gold category. Mike Anzaldi (RYNO with Team Stradale), Richard Durocher (EVR Motorsports), and David Flynt (Apex Motorsports South) will join Zweifel in the Gold class.

At the pointy end of the field with the 425hp Radical SR10 machinery will be the Platinum class. Entering the event, the Field duo of Jon and Clint racing out of the ONE Motorsports camp will look to keep their winning momentum going, while teammate and multiple SCCA Runoffs winner Chip Romer looks for his breakthrough win. EVR Motorsports will enter a trio of drivers, including the always competitive Wisconsinite Louis Schriber, along with Jim Booth and Gregg Gorski. ESSES Racing, CROWN with APEX, and G-Tech Motorsports will enter one driver each in Wayne Williams, Jason Plotke, and Jason Greenwood to bring the total car count to 36 for the weekend.

“Wisconsin marks a busy month for the Radical Cup, with teams immediately heading to Laguna Seca for Round 4 with IndyCar June 21-23, and then it’s just the streets of Toronto and Sonoma,” noted Drewer, “but with three races on each weekend, there’s a lot of points up for grabs, and a lot of time for drivers to bounce back in the championship.”

Follow the Radical Cup North America social media pages for news, information, photos, and results from the event weekend. All three races will be livestreamed from Road America. Stay tuned for links on Radical’s social media channels.

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.

The Motor Enclave announced today that it has entered into an agreement to become an Official Radical Motorsport Dealer and is launching “Radical Tampa Bay” to sell the full line of Radical Motorsport purpose-built race cars, including the latest generation of the world’s best-selling race car, the SR3 XXR.

“We couldn’t be more excited to become an Official Radical Dealer and to partner with the Radical Motorsport team in bringing all things Radical to The Motor Enclave,” said founder and CEO, Brad Oleshansky. “Our 1.72-mile Hermann Tilke-designed driving circuit is the perfect place to enjoy the full capabilities of a Radical, especially their signature SR3 XXR.”

“After visiting The Motor Enclave while under development we immediately knew that we must have a Radical dealership onsite. We believe the Enclave has the potential to be one of our top performing dealers due to the fact that the driving circuit is surrounded by the largest Private Garage Community in the world,” said Dan Redpath, Chief Commercial Officer for Radical Motorsport.

The newly opened Enclave Speed Shop powered by Morgan Auto Group will provide onsite service, maintenance and technical support in its state-of-the-art shop. The shop has already attracted a team of seasoned mechanics with extensive race car experience, including specific knowledge and expertise with Radicals.

Radical Tampa Bay will officially open in June 2024 with a series of events and product demos for Enclave Motorsports Club members. Sales and service will be open to those who are not Enclave owners/members as well.

Radical has quickly become the race car of choice for motorsport and car club members wanting faster, more competitive cars. Since it’s inception, Radical Motorsport has sold close to 3,000 cars, with roughly two-thirds of cars being exported to North America. The appointment of Radical Tampa Bay complements the existing Radical dealer network, and is now their tenth dealer in North America. The last few years have also seen the Radical Cup North America race series gain popularity, once again this season it supports four IndyCar rounds, including one on the streets of Toronto.

The wider, global Radical dealer network includes over 30 dealers serving over 20 countries — all the way from Canada and the U.S. to Europe, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.

A Radical Journey continues with a pair of videos that show the human side of Radical Motorsport.

In Episode 7, we learn more about two Asian Le Mans Series LMP2 regulars who got their racing starts in the cockpit of a Radical. George Kurtz, a class winner at the 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Le Mans and John Falb, a two-time European Le Mans Series Champion talk about their early experiences in a Radical. Neither of them started their careers as race car drivers, yet having taken the first step in a Radical, they eventually found themselves on the starting grid of many of the world’s greatest sports car races. Click here, or watch it below.

Episode 8 puts several members in the Radical Cup North America paddock on the “light-hearted” spot with a 20-second challenge. See who succeeded and who failed to make the grade. Click here, or watch it below.