Monday 17th June 2013

Radical wins battle of Brits

Cholmondeley Pageant of Power showdown for Radical, Ariel, Caterham and BAC (updated with video!)

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A few weeks back we drove three of the contenders for fastest time at the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power as a preview for what turned out to be a fairly tasty battle for course honours among the British-built talent. The car missing from our preview drive was last year's official winner, the the BAC Mono.

Scott Mansell couldn't quite catch the Radical

It did, however, include the Radical SR8 RX - the very same SR8 RX that smashed the course record at the Pageant of Power this weekend with a time of 55.29 seconds. In the process it beat last year's unofficial winner, the Caterham SP/300.R, which managed 55.53 seconds, and our third contender the Ariel Atom 3.5. The Atom's 61.18 left the BAC Mono fractionally behind in fourth place with a 62.15.

Suffice to say, all drivers were pushing on and setting some seriously rapid times, evidenced by the fact that Scott Mansell's 61.89 last year in the Caterham was good enough for overall honours. How hard was Radical driver Robbie Kerr pushing to take over six seconds out of that? Considerably harder than we were, given by how much air he got over the first bridge after the startline compared with what we managed. Which is to say, none. Check out Robbie's onboard vid here in case you were in any doubt ... gulp!

Ariel's 2013 time would have taken win last year

Suffice to say, this little battle between the hardcore British lightweights is shaping up into a nice little annual ding-dong and a signature scrap on Cholmondeley's challenging little sprint track. Fair play to all involved and we'll see who comes out on top next year...

For the full results click here.

 

 

 

 

[Electra]

too bad the Ultima did not enter! might have been up there with the Radical...

[reef67]

...big cojones!!!

[GTRene]

holy-moly what a fast Radical, you must have very good/fast reactions.

[Mafioso]

The way it stopped into that right hander before the bridge! Wow!

[Martin_Hx]

Watched that with my jaw slowly dropping, top drive ! Very capable car

[suffolk009]

why didn't Ariel play their V8?

[900T-R]

Bl00dy h*ll, the consequences of getting it wrong down that narrow lane at that sort of pace don't bear thinking about

[RINGMEISTER]

Phenominal on the brakes, extraordinary traction out the corners, very nicely done!!

[J4CKO]

suffolk009 said:

why didn't Ariel play their V8?

I think, no matter what Ariel do with regards to power do it will always at a disadvantage due to not being as focused on aerodynamics and downforce.

[Bencolem]

Lunatic!

[DanielSan]

That's insanely fast!

[Fittster]

I wonder how a Caparo T1 would have got on.

[Furyblade_Lee]

Totally nuts. And humbling.

[sideways sid]

He'd had his wheatabix! - A great bit of driving.

[BertBert]

Terrifying! I think I'll stick to circuits.

[Scuffers]

Electra said:

too bad the Ultima did not enter! might have been up there with the Radical...

no chance...

J4CKO said:

suffolk009 said:

why didn't Ariel play their V8?

I think, no matter what Ariel do with regards to power do it will always at a disadvantage due to not being as focused on aerodynamics and downforce.

quite apart from being totally out-classed chassis wise...

[AA121]

Anyone know if it was running road tyres?

[BBS-LM]

That was quick, would love to race these things one day.

[McWigglebum4th]

BertBert said:

Terrifying! I think I'll stick to circuits.

Try doune for size

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdXtIt4xd_Y

[soad]

POTW contender, shirley?