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2005 Radical SR8

2005 Radical SR8

2005 Radical SR8

In road legal trim and riding on Dunlop Direnza tyres Michael Vergers smashed one the world’s most prestigious production car records in a Radical SR8. The 13-mile Nordschleife circuit lap record now stands at 6 minutes 55 seconds, a full 20 seconds off the next placeholder.

The Radical SR8 is powered by a 2.6-litre high-revving V8 engine, built in-house by Powertec, developing 360bhp. It generates enough downforce to be able to theoretically drive upside down and holds the outright lap record at Cadwell Park. With over twenty-five cars built and running, the SR8 is now a well-developed and reliable car.

The SR8 is not cheap, but where else in the world can you get a sports car which is designed around the world’s only lightweight V8 engine which develops over 360bhp in standard form? The Powertec RPA enigne revs to 10,500rpm, has exceptionally good power and torque curves, and sounds gorgeous!

The SR8 is a available with either an ultra-lightweight Hewland JFR six-speed sequential gearbox, with plate-style LSD or the new uprated Quaife RQ2, with it’s ultra-lightweight shift and torque-biasing LSD

The SR8 is comfy to sit in (a new, high-sided seat holds the driver in very securely) and all the controls come directly to hand. The pedal box and seat are fully adjustable, enabling drivers of all sizes to fit comfortably, which is just as well as the SR8 will pull 3g around a fast corner, helped by the sporty Dunlop 15” / 16” diameter slicks, designed specifically for the car.

Story by Radical, edited by Supercars.net

In Detail

submitted by Richard Owen
engine Powertec RPA 72 Degree V8 w/Flat-plane Crankshaft
bore 81 mm / 3.19 in
stroke 63 mm / 2.48 in
compression 11.0:1
power 270.7 kw / 363 bhp @ 10300 rpm
bhp/weight 605.0 bhp per tonne
torque 271.16 nm / 200 ft lbs @ 7000 rpm
body / frame Fibreglass over steel Spaceframe
driven wheels RWD w/Quaife RQ2 Differntial
front brakes Discs w/Radical 4-Piston Calipers
f brake size x 280 mm / x 11.0 in
rear brakes Discs w/Radical 4-Piston Calipers
r brake size x 280 mm / x 11.0 in
front wheels F 38.1 x 17.8 cm / 15 x 7 in
rear wheels R 40.6 x 20.3 cm / 16 x 8 in
f suspension Nik Doube Wishbones w/Radical Triple-Adjustable Shock Absorbers
r suspension Nik Doube Wishbones w/Radical Triple-Adjustable Shock Absorbers
curb weight 650 kg / 1433 lbs
length 4050 mm / 159.4 in
width 1800 mm / 70.9 in
transmission Hewland JFR Six-speed Sequential Transaxle
gear ratios 2.615:1, 1.937:1, 1.526:1, 1.285:1, 1.136:1, 1.043:1, :1
final drive 3.400:1