Page 124 - Paddock Life Issue 13 ADRENALINE

the circuit seem to be rolling road blocks the pace of this car is frenetic and the noise and sensation is just fantastic. What a machine, and this car actually has license plates on it, we could drive it home, this is hyper car performance at a fraction of the cost. OK, it looks and feels like a race car, but still, a very cool car to rock up on the school run.
Now it’s my turn. I’ve done a fair bit of track driving in the past, but I’m very aware that it’s a perishable skill and after being shown the sheer speed and drivability of these cars, I must admit to being a little nervous as I drop myself into the driver seat of the SR3 RSX. They strap me in and put on the steering wheel as I tighten my helmet and pull on my gloves. It’s a motorbike gearbox, so the clutch is only needed for starting and stopping, the paddles are, left for down and right for up, but first gear is down so with first selected I pull away from garage 9b and toward the end of the pit lane. Accelerating around the pit exit up through the gears I join the circuit on this busy track day. The last time I drove this track was
in my Mercielago so it was about 7 years ago, so I can’t say I know the circuit, but my Radical works driver is next to me giving hand signals to indicate the best gear for the corners, which helps me understand the flow of the circuit. The one thing I notice is how low I am sitting, it’s a very different view of the circuit, once I start to string it together and get some flow the car is great fun. Through sections where I know the next bend I am able to pile on the power and let the car make me look good. The Radical is so well balanced and planted it inspires confidence, shifting up and down the sequential box is seamless and with the power on she just pulls and pulls, a slight lift and gear change for some bends and at corners like Vale you can brake really late and turn in powering back through the box, this was so much fun. I’d love to have had the car all day so I could start to learn the circuit and drive the Radical somewhere near its capabilities. As I returned to the pit lane I just wanted to get out again, but Graham had a busy day of owners and buyers that were scheduled to drive.
The Radical can make a racing driver out of you, my experience with the guys that day was fantastic, I know a lot people who have made a few quid and started racing, but they are buying GT Club cars and that’s a very expensive game, especially when you get it wrong. Racing in the SR1 Cup Championship is great way to scratch that itch, have some great fun and hone your race craft, a season or two in Radicals will set you up nicely if you do feel GT Racing is your calling. It’s no wonder they are probably the best selling race car in the world, sensibly priced and serious fun. So if you do think you want to get into real racing give the guys a call and pop over to the Peterborough headquarters where they talk you through the process and show you some cars, then book up for test day, it’ll certainly be a memorable one, this car can make a hero out of you.
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