The majority of purpose-built race cars are offered only in white. They get wrapped, they get raced, they get crashed, they get repaired and sent back out to race again.
Over half of the 150+ Radical race cars that leave the Cambridgeshire, UK each year are also ordered in white for this reason. However, not all racers want to follow the trend, and for this reason Radical offers seven different colours for bodywork, with an eighth ‘bespoke’ option that caught the attention of back-to-back Gulf Radical Cup Champion, Alex Bukhanstov.
Bukhanstov decided on a unique ‘Ruby’ colour when ordering his new Radical SR3 XXR in preparation for the 2024/25 season, where he will be defending his title for the third year in a row. It’s currently the only SR3 XXR in this colour although the factory team can offer it for subsequent customers, available to order through Radical’s 30+ global dealers.
Reigning Gulf Radical Cup champion Bukhanstov ordered his Ruby SR3 XXR through Radical UAE, operated by GulfSport, one of the longest-standing members of the Radical Motorsport dealer network. Celebrated for its racing credibility, much like Bukhanstov, GulfSport is also the back-to-back winner of the Radical Dealer of the Year award for the Rest of World region, which spans Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Headed by father-son duo Barry and Martin Hope, and based at the FIA-sanctioned Dubai Autodrome, GulfSport has long been a focal point in the Gulf’s motorsport community.
Opening in 2004, GulfSport has been developing the Radical market across the Gulf region for over twenty years. In 2005, it established the Gulf Radical Cup, which remains one of the most popular of the official Radical Cup championships around the world, and this November Radical UAE will be hosting the 2024 Radical World Finals at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
Creating this unique Ruby colour for the fibre-reinforced composite bodywork panels was the task given to the experienced team at Radical’s Cambridgeshire, UK factory.
Small samples were first created that could be easily sent to the customer in Dubai, allowing them to see first-hand how the colour looks in the sunshine of Dubai. Once approved by the customer, the in-house body shop team could get started, while next door, in the main Radical assembly hall, the spaceframe chassis, 1500cc RPE engine and internals of the race car are bought to life.
Mixing specially-formulated pigments into the gelcoat layer creates a coloured, glossy surface that will retain the SR3 XXR’s finish for years to come. Plus it won’t easily chip like paint when pushing up to, and occasionally beyond, the limits of both car and driver.