After first releasing the SR3 in 2002, Radical’s most popular sports car has undergone a series of gradual revisions, but after securing a maiden UK win at the Rockingham Speedway, Radical has officially renamed the new facelifted car to acknowledge its new components.
Now known as the Radical SR3 RS, the entry-level sports car represents several years’ worth of evolution for Radical sports cars. Over 450 SR3s have been sold since its launch, during which time numerous upgrades have been added to customer cars, but now after experiencing firsthand the enormous power and ability of the new SR3 RS at the Radical Owner’s Club inaugural track day earlier in the week, PistonHeads can reveal the details of the fully revised SR3 RS.
Central to the car’s upgrade is the performance boost that comes courtesy of an all-new combustion chamber with titanium valves to provide 260bhp from the 1.5-litre Powertec Suzuki engine.
Changes to the powder-coated carbon-steel chassis and SR3 floorpan have improved the handling and grip levels, as well as improving the car’s safety. But the most striking change is the new aero package taken from the SR3 RS’s sister car, the Radical SR8.
A new aero design not only increases the downforce generated by the SR3 RS, which allows the car to corner and brake harder than before, but also improves the engine cooling to allow the new car to run in extreme temperatures in excess of 40 degrees Celsius. This has allowed Radical to expand its customer base, and ensures that the factory is kept busy producing cars for race series from Las Vegas to Saudi Arabia.
The livery has also been redesigned to reflect the new car’s changes, while the aluminum wheels have been redesigned and now sport new custom made slick or wet weather tyres from Dunlop.
Radical has even revised the SR3’s steering wheel, with a new wheel-mounted data display and logging system that gives instant oil and fuel pressure readouts.