Any Radical in the USA is fantastic to experience up close, especially in its native environment: the racetrack.
The Radical SR3 SL here is the only two-seat model in the United States – so it is:
a) the quickest car around almost any racetrack — including the Nurburgring, where Radical has long held an unbeat-ably quick pace in the 6.44-second SR8. The SR3 SL is no slouch either: its roughly 7:00-second Nordeshleiffe lap is still in the top 20 for any kind of car, racers included.
b) one of the only street-legal track cars of this caliber of performance
c) a two-seater!
Amazing stuff. 45 original, super-high-res photos of this SR3 SL at Atlanta Motorsports Park. Plus 30 or so photos of the latest official Radical SR3 SL photos.
STARTUP VIDEO
Radical SR3 SL
TECHNOLOGY & SPECIFICATION
The SR3 SL flatters on all levels: performance, handling, styling and specification.
At the heart of the SR3 SL beats the advanced Ford EcoBoost engine. Turbocharged and with 300 bhp, it has direct fuel injection and a fly-by-wire throttle, coupled to a six-speed paddleshift to allow for lightning-quick 80ms gear changes.
Protected by a lightweight spaceframe chassis that’s tested and approved to FIA sportscar racing standards, and an aluminium honeycomb crash structure developed at Cranfield’s Formula One testing facility, you’re driving the safest car of its type.
Fully-floating 280mm disc brakes at the front and rear provide stopping power beyond the abilities of any other supercar. Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche owners should watch their mirrors… no other road car comes close, or passes, on a track day.
Performance figures:
- 0-60mph: 3.4 seconds (Porsche 911 Carrera: 4.6 seconds)
- 0-100mph: 8.4 seconds
- 60-0mph: 2.67 seconds
- Vmax: 161mph
Dimensions:
- Length: 4.10m
- Height: 1.13m
- Width: 1.79m
- Dry weight: 775kg
Standard specification:
300bhp RPE-Ford 2000cc, turbocharged engine with split-event direct injection, twin-independent variable cam timing, fly-by-wire throttle and LIFE bespoke engine management
Six-speed sequential transaxle with integral Quaife ATB differential
Paddleshift gear change with auto-blipper
Lightweight spaceframe chassis with FIA compliant safety cell and crash structure
Full road lighting and bodywork
Intrax adjustable suspension optimised for road and track use
280mm, 48-vane fully-floating disc brakes front and rear with
four-pot calipers
SR3 RS
BREATHTAKING PERFORMANCE AND EASY TO DRIVE
A true ‘world’ supercar, the SR3 RS is as much at home flat-out through Eau Rouge, as it is providing passenger rides for your friends around the Nordschleife.
It is the world’s most successful sports-racer, with over 900 satisfied customers. The SR3 RS is a sure-footed, highly-developed racer, adept and rapid in the hands of both the novice trackday driver, and seasoned racing professional.
The SR3 RS is powered by the Powertec four-cylinder range of engines, from 1340cc to 1500cc and beyond. It’s a proven classwinner, not only in Radical’s single-marque race series such as the Radical SR3 Challenge, but many other multi-marque championships around the world too.
First launched in 2002, the SR3 RS incorporates a six-speed sequential transmission, and drives via the Power Drive gear drive system, developed in partnership with Quaife especially for the SR3. With an integral torque-biasing differential, this reliable, easy-to-maintain unit is one of the SR3 RS’s strengths, offering strong traction out of corners. Swapping gear ratios to suit specific tracks is a straightforward job.
Four-pot callipers, with vented discs on each corner, endear the SR3 RS with awesome stopping power.
The SR3 RS features Radical’s FIA-specification crash box and central safety cell, whilst styling cues taken from the SR9 LMP2 car, including the high-nose front-end, offer not only dramatic styling, but also advanced aerodynamics, with a full-underfloor diffuser for leech-like grip. Dunlop tyres, developed exclusively for the SR series, complete the package.
An ergonomic and comfortable twin-seat cockpit makes the SR3 RS an ideal trackday car and endurance racer, with in-built LIFE engine management and datalogging, and an advanced AiM LCD dash/multifunction display. Centre-locking wheels, and optional air jacks mean that, should the weather turn, the switch from slick to wet tyres is rapid and easy.
READ THE SR3 RS OWNER’S MANUAL
SR3 RS Overview
Length: | 4.10m |
Height: | 1.04m |
Width: | 1.79m |
Min Weight: | 570 kg |
Max Speed:: | 155mph |
0-60mph: | 3.1 sec |
50-100mph: | 5.3 sec |
Braking G’s: | 2.0 |
Cornering G’s: | 2.5 |
SPA Laptime: | 2m 25sec |
SR3 RS Standard Features
Two-seater, powder-coated carbon steel spaceframe chassis with integral safety cell – complying with FiA Production Sports Car Safety Structure Test
Aluminium honeycomb front crash structures complying with FiA Production Sports Car Crash Test
Removable forward facing steel chassis stays
54 litre foam-filled aluminium fuel tank mounted behind the driver within the safety cell
Fully adjustable pedal box
Driver seat-belt complying with FiA requirements
Powertec 1340cc 4-cylinder double overhead cam engine, dry sump with remote oil reservoir & oil cooler
Engine performance: 210bhp, 130ft/Ibs, 10,500rpm
Electrical pump to circulate water to prevent heat soak
Four butterfly, 41mm fuel injection system with composite ram air box
Lightweight steel flywheel with multi-plate clutch
Stainless steel manifold and silencer
Six speed sequential transverse gearbox
Gear drive system incorporating torque-biasing limited-slip differential for seamless diff lock-up, interchangeable gear ratios and integral reverse gear system
PowerTec transmission oil pump and radiator
Fully adjustable Nik suspension system front and rear – unequal length top and bottom wishbones, fabricated uprights, forged centre lock hubs and interchangeable anti-roll links
Single-adjustable, coil-over dampers
Radical four-pot calipers front and rear
260mm dia. 25mm, 30-vane ventilated discs front and rear
Radical centre lock, cast aluminium wheels – 8″ × 15″ dia. front and 10½” × 16″ dia. rears
Dunlop bespoke slick tyres
Six-piece lightweight fibre-glass bodywork with self-coloured gel coat finish
Owners name on side of cockpit
High downforce composite front diffuser with removable, high-nose, low-drag front section
Central brake cooling duct connected to carbon composite brake cooling shrouds
Wheel arch louvres front and rear
Rear view mirrors
Quick-release front cockpit fairing
Composite side pods with air management system and radiator inlet
Composite side skirts
Removable composite tail section with integral induction intake and ventilation grilles
High downforce bi-plane rear wing with end plates
Rear brake and fog lights
Moulded composite, high-sided, drivers and passenger seats with adjustable mounts
Carbon-composite dash surround
Quick-release steering wheel with collapsible column
Radical display unit incorporating an LED analogue rev counter, gear indicator, shift light, four LCD displays of engine parameters/speed and warning lights
Dash-mounted brake bias adjuster
http://www.radicalsportscars.com/uk/showroom/radical-sr3-rs.aspx
http://www.radicalsportscars.com/
- High-downforce road/trackday ‘Monaco’ tri-plane rear
spoiler and diffuser - Multi-function steering wheel with integral indicators, horn and head light controls
- Sculpted LCD dash with warning lights and momentary switches
- Cockpit heater and courtesy light
- Electrically-adjustable heated mirrors
- Remote engine immobilizer
- Moulded, fully-adjustable racing seat with integral headrest and multi-point harness
- 12V auxiliary socket

Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine.
He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.
Mr. Burkart is available for all questions and concerns by email Tom(at)car-revs-daily.com.