IT WOULD BE REMISS TO HAVE A TRACK CAR TEST without including two ultimate expressions of the genre.
The Radical and Revolution are the only cars here that aren't road-legal: they've been created purely for the track, for both racing and recreation, but they've also both been designed as cars that a novice or a seasoned driver could hop into and find equally rewarding. In short, they're designed for fun as well as lap times, so they fit right in with this test's ethos.
And as an ultimate benchmark for pure, focused driving, there's little else out there like a Radical SR3. The SR3 has been around since 2002 and has evolved continuously since, with more than 1500 cars sold around the world, and multiple dedicated championships across various continents. But the essentials remain the same: lightweight tubular chassis, motorcycle-sourced engine (subsequently reengineered by Radical's RPE engine division), intelligently calibrated suspension, and aerodynamic bodywork shaped for downforce.
Here at Cadwell today, we have the SR3 XXR, the fifth-generation SR3, which launched in 2022. Together with solid-state data technology, it also features a new generation of RPE's racing engine, available as either a 1340cc or 1500cc unit - this car has the latter.
The first RPE engine with the ability to run on biofuel, it turns out 232bhp and runs through a six-speed paddleshift gearbox and Quaife limited-slip diff.
Stepping over the side and nestling down into the lay-back driving position, you're reminded of another SR3 USP: an ant-level centre of gravity. Stepping into the SR3 after any of the road-legal cars gives you a totally different perspective.
This story is from the June 2024 edition of Evo UK.
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This story is from the June 2024 edition of Evo UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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THE PERFORMANCE CAR LANDSCAPE WOULD HAVE looked very different over the last five decades without BMW. Its M division, founded in 1972, has produced some of the best driver’s cars ever to hit the road, and in the process has provided a stream of benchmark models for its rivals to chase. In recent years, stricter emissions regulations, downsizing and electrification have seen some of those rival cars falter, yet by and large BMW’s M machines have remained strong. In fact, some rank among the greatest the department has made think of the eCoty-winning M2 CS and M5 CS while others are the only options worth recommending in their respective segments. Price tags have risen with performance, however, putting those latest offerings out of reach for many, but the marque’s popularity means there are numerous earlier M models available on the second-hand market for far more attainable figures. Here are four of our favourites.
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