Three radical world champions crowned during Yas Marina Finals

Following previous Radical World Finals in Las Vegas (2022) and Portimão (2023), the action moved to Abu Dhabi’s Formula 1 venue at the Yas Marina Circuit. This event was organized with the support of local Radical dealer partner GulfSport Racing (UAE) and sponsored by the Abu Dhabi-based owners of the revolutionary Kinetic7 hydrogen/kettle technology.

One of the attractions of the event was the enormous amount of track time the drivers enjoyed as they familiarized themselves with the 5.5 kilometer GP circuit with its 17 corners. Some seven hours of testing was available in the build-up to the weekend action, which included a qualifying session, three heat races and the all-important world final race. The 20-minute qualifying session was intense, with as many as 32 drivers doing their best to secure the best starting positions for the first two ‘sprint’ races that took place before the ‘endurance’ race on Sunday afternoon.

Dubai-based Alim Geshev (TT Racing) secured pole in the Platinum class, which included four SR10 XXRs and interestingly a 14-year-old Radical SR8, expertly piloted by Saudi driver Saeed Almouri (DW Racing). This class of cars, which was around three seconds per lap faster than the larger PRO 1500 class, naturally dominated the front of the races in this multi-class event, which is three racing classes in one. The PRO 1500 class, which accounted for three quarters of the SR3 XXRs on the grid, provided extremely close racing with identical Hankook tires and Radical’s own RPE engines, especially as so many on the grid are winners and champions of several Radical Cup championships around the world.

HEAT AXIS 1

The first sprint race started with the usual rolling start led by Geshev in his 425 hp Radical SR10 XXR. All cars navigated the 90-degree Turn 1 smoothly, but two top drivers – Gregg Gorski (Radical Factory) and Oscar Joyce (DW Racing) – were absent from the front row and were stuck in the pit lane due to timing protocol issues. As Geshev took the lead, the PRO 1500 class battled for position, with Usmaan Mughal (GulfSport Racing) moving quickly and passing both Sebastian Murray (Dream Racing) and Ian Aguilera (RAW Motorsports) before Turn 1. Murray later spun out into the turn 9, which adds to the intensity of the race.

At the checkered flag it was Geshev, followed by Joyce, the only other Platinum class driver to pass all PRO 1500 drivers. Mughal had managed to stay ahead of the young boys and win the PRO 1500 class, with 17-year-old Mexican superstar Aguilera having to settle for P2 ahead of Kristian Brookes (Valour Racing).

HEAT AXIS 2

The starting grid for sprint race 2 was determined by the driver’s best lap times from race one, with the SR10 XXRs Geshev and Joyce on the front row, with the SR3 XXRs Aguilera and Mughal on row two.

As the lights went out, 32 cars entered Turn 1, led by the two SR10s and closely followed by four SR3s: Mughal, Aguilera, Brookes and Radical Cup UK, North America, and Gulf regular Jack Yang (Valour Racing) . They all got through safely, although a spin by Fujinami (GulfSport Racing) caused a safety car. Aguilera managed to overtake Mughal and reverse their Race 1 positions. After 25 minutes, Platinum Class drivers Geshev, Joyce and Gorski finished in the lead, followed by PRO 1500 Class drivers Aguilera, Mughal and Brookes. Canadians Robert Burgess (Radical Canada East), Eric “Sonny” Andrews (Radical Canada West) and John Hughes (Radical Canada West) wrapped up an intense battle with the PRO 1500 group in their SR3 XXR 1340s.

HEAT AXIS 3

Sunday’s opening race was delayed by a safety car after contact between Amir Feyzulin (TT Racing) and Jordan Missig (Graham Rahal Performance), with Feyzulin retiring due to front-end damage. Racing quickly resumed, with Geshev in the lead. Oscar Joyce passed Gorski at the start and closed in on Geshev, but Geshev maintained a comfortable lead and took his third win of the weekend. Gorski passed Joyce during the pit stops and finished second.

The PRO 1500 class saw exciting battles, especially between Chris Preen (Valour Racing) and Suellio Almeida (GulfSport Racing), who almost collided in turns 6 and 7. Brookes led early, but a post-race penalty sent him to the second place, with his Valor Racing teammate Yang taking first place. Missig finished third and Aguilera also received a penalty. In the PRO 1340 class, Burgess retained first place, with Andrews second and Hughes third.

WORLD FINAL RACE

The grid for the 30-minute World Finals race was based on points from the previous three races, with the class winners set to be crowned 2024 Radical World Champion. Geshev took pole, joined by Aguilera, followed by Joyce and Gorski in their SR10s, while Brookes, Yang and David Evans (DW Racing) filled the next rows, amid a packed field.

On the first lap, a major collision at Turn 2 involving Almouri, Johnny Khazzoum (TT Racing), George Harding (GulfSport Racing), Andrews and Evans caused a red flag and a 30-minute delay. At the restart, Geshev led, with Aguilera close behind him, while Gorski’s mispositioning led to a wide turn and a penalty. Mughal moved aggressively to challenge Aguilera, while Almeida pressed Preen, while Fujinami waited for an opening. The Canadian trio fought intensely throughout. A late collision between Jack Yang, Rick Parish (GulfSport Racing) and Mughal brought out the Safety Car, ending the race under a yellow flag.

Ultimately, Alim Geshev (TT Racing) claimed the Radical Platinum Class title, followed by Oscar Joyce (DW Racing) and Gregg Gorski (Radical Factory). Aguilera won the PRO 1500, with Kristian Brookes (Valour Racing) and PRO 1500 North American Champion Jordan Missig (Graham Rahal Performance) in second and third. It was also a Canadian one-two-three in the PRO 1340 class, as Robert Burgess (Radical Canada East) took the PRO 1340 title, along with John Hughes (Radical Canada West) and Eric “Sonny” Andrews (Radical Canada West) filling the remaining two spots.

Each world champion will receive a custom HRX racewear package, while the top three rounds in each class will receive a limited-edition Omologato Radical Chronograph watch.

Follow all the action on the Radical Motorsport YouTube channel – youtube.com/radicalmotorsport.