There's never been a slow Radical, but meet the least slow of the lot 💨
Many journalists are so good at dressing up as race drivers they get confused with the real thing. But definitely not me. Wearing a set of borrowed overalls in Radical's old colours and an unpainted helmet finished in what my son refers to as Noob White, I couldn't look more amateur in Portimao's pitlane if I had a Yakkety Sax soundtrack.
Not that all SR10s are built to compete, despite eligibility to the company's top-flight championships around the world. Sales and marketing boss Dan Redpath reckons there is something close to a 50:50 split between racers and those looking for a weapon capable of dominating top-end trackdays. The idea is for a car that both experienced pilots and relative novices can both get something out. Which is where I come in...
To no great surprise the engine doesn't feel particularly special. Responses are keen and performance is huge, but the motor is more interested in delivering speed than character. Mid-range torque is huge - short-shifting well before the 7,000rpm redline barely diminishes the rate of full-throttle acceleration - but there is no zing to the top end, and the even through the padding of a helmet it just sounds loud and angry.