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.