The bumper grid of 37 cars gathered for the 2017 Radical Festival features an array of current racing models from the world’s largest manufacturer of sports-racing cars, including two generations of the SR3, two generations of the SR8, plus the Radical RXC Spyder.
Among the 45 participants are an impressive collection of reigning and international champions, seasoned Radical racers and Spa debutants fulfilling a bucket-list ambition, hailing from the UK Radical Challenge Championship, Radical European Masters, plus guest racers from North America, the Middle East and Scandinavia.
One of the world’s most iconic tracks stepped in over 90 years of racing history, the epic 4.352-mile circuit is consistently voted the favourite and most requested event on the Radical racing calendar. Stunning surroundings, unquestionable speed and corners like Eau Rouge are why Radical racers from across the globe have flocked to compete at this unique round for the past two decades.
Defending Radical Challenge Champion Steve Burgess heads to Spa topping the 2017 title battle and after an outright win and two third place podiums in the Donington Park season-openers last month. Jack Lang, runner up to Burgess in 2016, sits second with reigning Radical European Masters Champion, Marcello Marateotto currently third, with 21 points separating each position.
In the Team Challenge, Brian and Tom Harvey hold a single point advantage over RAW Motorsport teammates, Tony and James Barwell, with Peter Tyler and Tom Gladdis lying third, 19 points shy of the leaders.
The Radical Challenge class of 2017 is set to grow at Spa, with several latecomers joining for the remainder of the season. Despite missing Donington Park, Jason Rishover will be looking to get in on the 2017 title fight right from the start of his series return and Spa debut with Nielsen Racing.
Rishover commented: “Racing around Spa in a Radical SR3 RX is going to be a fantastic way to return to the Radical Challenge Championship. I got my race licence four years ago and I want to grab every opportunity. Although I’ve got a busy year also competing in the LMP3 Cup, I don’t want to give up my Radical racing and I keep coming back to this special community. With the support of my driver coach, Alex Kapadia, I’m aiming to cement my top six status this season.”
Also back for 2017, father and son duo Lee and Aaron Bailey return to the Challenge fold. Ranked third in the 2016 Team Challenge and with five years’ Radical racing experience, including an outright second place finish at Spa in 2014 for Aaron, the Brighton (UK) partnership will be aiming for a Team podium finish with RAW Motorsport.
Just two weeks on from giving the 2017 Radical SR8 its maiden European Masters win on their driver pairing debut at Portimao, American father and son duo Jim and Ryan Booth will be looking to continue their triple podium form in Belgium with Valour Racing. While taking delivery of the brand new Radical SR8 on arrival at Spa, the South Carolina pair plan to contest the weekend in their ABS and traction control-upgraded Radical RXC Spyder, in which Jim finished third in the 2016 Championship.
“We are really looking forward to our first outing as a driving duo at Spa,” said Jim. “Although a non-championship European Masters round, it’ll be a special weekend as we take delivery of our new Radical SR8. We were seriously impressed by the new-for-2017 car’s increased power and downforce at Portimao and I can’t wait to add it to my growing Radical collection, which also includes the 2014 SR8 and an SR3. We’ve already proved we’re in with a shot at the Masters title in our first season racing together, but this weekend is about having fun.”
The Radical Festival action starts with two 60-minute practice sessions on Friday 26th May, ahead of two 20-minute qualifying sessions at 09:30 local time on Saturday. Following a slightly different format from the regular Radical Challenge schedule for this special event, three 60-minute races follow at 13:25 on Saturday, and 11:00 and 15:50 on Sunday.
Radical race fans can follow all the race action live on Radical TV YouTube Channel throughout the weekend. For even live timing visit https://online.cronococa.com
The biggest UK Radical grid in five years will assemble at Spa-Francorchamps next weekend, 27th-28th May, as the second-round Radical Challenge Championship battle resumes at the legendary Belgian circuit.
The bumper grid of 37 cars gathered for the 2017 Radical Festival features an array of current racing models from the world’s largest manufacturer of sports-racing cars, including two generations of the SR3, two generations of the SR8, plus the Radical RXC Spyder.
Among the 45 participants are an impressive collection of reigning and international champions, seasoned Radical racers and Spa debutants fulfilling a bucket-list ambition, hailing from the UK Radical Challenge Championship, Radical European Masters, plus guest racers from North America, the Middle East and Scandinavia.
One of the world’s most iconic tracks stepped in over 90 years of racing history, the epic 4.352-mile circuit is consistently voted the favourite and most requested event on the Radical racing calendar. Stunning surroundings, unquestionable speed and corners like Eau Rouge are why Radical racers from across the globe have flocked to compete at this unique round for the past two decades.
Defending Radical Challenge Champion Steve Burgess heads to Spa topping the 2017 title battle and after an outright win and two third place podiums in the Donington Park season-openers last month. Jack Lang, runner up to Burgess in 2016, sits second with reigning Radical European Masters Champion, Marcello Marateotto currently third, with 21 points separating each position.
In the Team Challenge, Brian and Tom Harvey hold a single point advantage over RAW Motorsport teammates, Tony and James Barwell, with Peter Tyler and Tom Gladdis lying third, 19 points shy of the leaders.
The Radical Challenge class of 2017 is set to grow at Spa, with several latecomers joining for the remainder of the season. Despite missing Donington Park, Jason Rishover will be looking to get in on the 2017 title fight right from the start of his series return and Spa debut with Nielsen Racing.
Rishover commented: “Racing around Spa in a Radical SR3 RX is going to be a fantastic way to return to the Radical Challenge Championship. I got my race licence four years ago and I want to grab every opportunity. Although I’ve got a busy year also competing in the LMP3 Cup, I don’t want to give up my Radical racing and I keep coming back to this special community. With the support of my driver coach, Alex Kapadia, I’m aiming to cement my top six status this season.”
Also back for 2017, father and son duo Lee and Aaron Bailey return to the Challenge fold. Ranked third in the 2016 Team Challenge and with five years’ Radical racing experience, including an outright second place finish at Spa in 2014 for Aaron, the Brighton (UK) partnership will be aiming for a Team podium finish with RAW Motorsport.
Just two weeks on from giving the 2017 Radical SR8 its maiden European Masters win on their driver pairing debut at Portimao, American father and son duo Jim and Ryan Booth will be looking to continue their triple podium form in Belgium with Valour Racing. While taking delivery of the brand new Radical SR8 on arrival at Spa, the South Carolina pair plan to contest the weekend in their ABS and traction control-upgraded Radical RXC Spyder, in which Jim finished third in the 2016 Championship.
“We are really looking forward to our first outing as a driving duo at Spa,” said Jim. “Although a non-championship European Masters round, it’ll be a special weekend as we take delivery of our new Radical SR8. We were seriously impressed by the new-for-2017 car’s increased power and downforce at Portimao and I can’t wait to add it to my growing Radical collection, which also includes the 2014 SR8 and an SR3. We’ve already proved we’re in with a shot at the Masters title in our first season racing together, but this weekend is about having fun.”
The Radical Festival action starts with two 60-minute practice sessions on Friday 26th May, ahead of two 20-minute qualifying sessions at 09:30 local time on Saturday. Following a slightly different format from the regular Radical Challenge schedule for this special event, three 60-minute races follow at 13:25 on Saturday, and 11:00 and 15:50 on Sunday.
Radical race fans can follow all the race action live on Radical TV YouTube Channel throughout the weekend. For even live timing visit online.cronococa.com
If that’s too long to wait, then sit back and marvel at DRIVETRIBE’s Editor-at-Large, Jethro Bovingdon’s awesome attempt to master Eau Rouge flat out in the Radical SR3 RSX earlier this year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_86W7YNdvDo