Circuit Driver Magazine - "Road Rage"

Road car for the Track or Track Car for the road? Whichever way round the Radical SR3 is a formidable piece of kit and one surprisingly suited to urban and B-road life as Circuit Driver takes the direct route to Mallory Park.

It was only a matter of time but it was surprising it had taken all day. Of course it was an unmarked Volvo. We’d zipped past it somewhere on that four lane stretch of the A1M heading towards Peterborough. However, there were plenty going faster so he left us to it. Peeling off onto the A1139 and the temptation was too much. The sweeping downhill right hander demanded punishment and the wings and sticky tyres did their stuff. It was quick but neither of us were looking at the speedo. Instead we were marvelling at how all of a sudden grey tarmac, armco, greenery and other road users had seemed to blur and fuse together. It was a burst that lasted for all of 15 seconds but it was enough to wind our road racer up to highly illegal speed.

We couldn’t really argue with our friend in blue. He pulled us over a couple of junctions later just as we were turning off. It was all too much for the chap on the scooter as he promptly fell off such was his interest in us, the Radical and the Policeman. "Now look what you’ve done," said the officer as the scooter man picked himself up and phut, phutted away. "Gets you noticed a car like this." Hard to argue so we agreed politely. "Not really the sort of thing to be breaking the speed limits in." again he had a point. "Probably better off on a race track." Er, indeed. We explained, he nodded, and he let us off.

As I say, it was bound to happen. All day we’d been pointed at, shouted at and even whistled at. People had taken photographs of us and generally shaken their heads in disbelief. Not surprising since there is nothing as incongruous as a sports racer on the road, particularly one that demands you wear a crash helmet.

But hey c’mon, this is the Radical SR3. It is a road car built for the enthusiast and built to be capable of carrying two people to a track day. Alternatively, it’s the four-wheeled equivalent to a superbike albeit, on the right stretch of the road, even quicker. But you wouldn’t really want to drive one on the road, would you? That’s why everyone trailers them everywhere surely? Well that’s kind of what we thought until Mick Hyde invited us to the Radical factory. "Come and take our road version away," he said, "Take it to a track day but just make sure you drive it there. I think you’ll be impressed." And by jingo we were.

Crosshead

When it comes down to it anything with four wheels can be driven on the road but there’s a general rule of thumb that says the more extreme the machine the bigger pain in the arse. And this is exactly what we were expecting of the Radical. Crash bang suspension, heavily castored steering and an on off clutch. Oh, and of course extreme wind assault from the open cockpit. Sure, on the track it would be excellent but getting there was going to be about as much fun as a night out in Baghdad with the Coalition.

First surprise is just how roomy the SR3 is two up. Both myself and Circuit Driver MD, Maclaren, are six-foot plus but even so there was room for our lanky frames. The seats are extremely comfortable too, offering a semi-reclined driving position that is pure Le Mans. Thoughtfully, Radical has supplied helmets complete with intercoms. They are basically half face but with full visors that can slide up and down. Lightweight, they are ideal for the job although it has to be said that they do look a little, how can I say it, gay!

Spec wise this is a standard Suzuki Hayabusa-powered SR3 with the stock 1300cc engine and 180bhp. Ride height has been tweaked to provide clearance for most obstacles and, according to Mick, the clutch has been softened off and given more feel. Dampers and springs too have been developed for road use, although being fully adjustable they can soon be stiffened up at the track.

Time to shoot. We’re off to Mallory Park for an RMA day and there are plenty of miles to be covered between Radical’s Peterborough base and Leicestershire. There’s no time for the scenic route either. It’s going to be A1, A14 and M1 before a quick cross-country dash to the track. The Radical is going to struggle. Surely it’s going to be too highly strung?

Before we’re even out of the industrial estate it’s obvious that the SR3 is well sorted. The clutch has feel and a defined biting point and the gears clonk home with ease. Above all though, the bone-shaking ride just isn’t there. It’s firm yes, but the compliance is stunning as the bumps are soaked up through the short travel. Whatever punishment the chassis encounters the springs and dampers deal with it before it can rip its way through the chassis. It helps too that the tyres have a sensible profile and are not just strips of rubber stretched round the rim.

No temperamental fits from the engine either. It’s big for a bike motor but still has lugging power that belies its capacity. On the one hand it is mind-bendingly fast but on the flipside it will cruise off the power band in sixth without any trouble or characteristic bike engine shenanigans.

Apart from a brief tussle with an E38 M3, in which the Radical ripped up to 130mph with a vigour that rather took us by surprise, the journey to Mallory was uneventful enough bar the looks and the pointing. One white van man even pulled alongside to take a happy snap on one of those new-fangled camera phone things. Our picture has probably been beamed around the world by now.

For added realism, and a test of the SR3’s real world abilities, we even took a couple of wrong turns and ended up touring a council estate and making a couple of three-point turns. With the Quaife transfer box, finding that often-elusive reverse is never a problem. We eventually pull into Mallory. Snapper Ebrey is beside himself with a mix of awe and incredulity. Race cars usually arrive on trailers not two up complete with helmets.

Typical of an RMA day the organisation is slick although it has to be said it is quiet. Graham Clarke is keen to offer his members a varied calendar but concedes that some of the smaller venues are always going to be less popular. "We can sell out Brands, Silverstone, Donington and Bedford over and over again, but places like Mallory, Cadwell and even Oulton can be a struggle," he says. Shame because you’re all missing out. Bijou it may be but Mallory isn’t short of a challenge. Still we’re on track ten minutes after arriving.

The Radical has acquitted itself on the road but now it’s in its true environment. From the moment that you clear the hairpin and drop down through the Devils Elbow and then nail the throttle on the start/finish straight, you just know that you’re in something pretty special. By the end of the straight the banzai Suzuki is screaming its rods off in fifth with the shift lights climbing. Gerards, the 180deg right-hander, is fast approaching and you just know that with every lap you’re going to go in quick and deeper but still you’ll never challenge the grip that’s available. Downforce you see. The Dunlop R road legal race covers are well up to temperature. They may not have quite the grip of slicks but they’re not far off.

Ten laps are enough in one straight stint. The concentration required is quire unlike anything else, especially on a short circuit like Mallory. Besides which, you need to get your head round it. Nine times out of ten with an SR3 you will have the fastest car on the track. Even a novice driver will be mixing with the GT2 Porsches while anyone with the ability to push the aero envelope and get it dancing around the very edges of its incredible downforce/grip coefficient, will be going very quickly indeed. It takes track days to a new dimension.

Time to head back but not until we’ve done a bit of photography in nearby Market Bosworth. Predictably we’re mobbed by a bunch of school kids while tourist take happy snaps. This is not a car for those that like to blend into the background! But, good as it is on the road it’s still a toy. It’s the kind of thing that you’re going to take out for a blast much in the same way as you would a superbike. Its limits, though, are beyond anything else on the road bar none. Go anywhere near them and things will be happening way too fast. The achievement here though is that it will still do things slowly, and even at 5/10th of its potential there’s still a road driving experience like no other to be had.