Radical 1100 Clubsport History

Built by co-founder Phil Abbott, the 1100 Clubsport was the first car to carry the Radical name when it made its public debut at Brands Hatch in April 1997. It used a 1,100 cc Kawasaki motorcycle engine mounted in a small, bespoke open-cockpit spaceframe chassis. The car was designed to be road-registerable in the UK while being competitive on track without modification — the founding principle of what Radical would become.

By 1999, enough 1100 Clubsports had been sold that Radical was able to launch a one-make series around the car, backed by the British Racing and Sports Car Club. That series was the embryo of the global Radical Cup structure. The same year the Prosport arrived as a follow-on model with more engine options (Kawasaki or Suzuki units up to 1,500 cc, slick tyres, and an adjustable rear wing), and the Clubsport's production run wound down as the SR3 took shape. The 1100 Clubsport remains the historical anchor of the entire Radical marque.