Following official testing two weeks ago, the first round of the 2024/25 Gulf Radical Cup took place this weekend in warm conditions on the 16-turn, 3.45 kms National Circuit at the Dubai Autodrome. The action was live-streamed, enabling driver’s families, teams and fans to watch all the action.
Series promoter 'Radical UAE - GulfSport Racing’ attracted a typical multi-national entry with 14 drivers that included both returning and new drivers to the series. But it was Ian Aguilera (RAW Motorsports), the 17 year old superstar from Guadalajara, Mexico who dominated the proceedings, winning both Sprint races on the Saturday and the 45 minute Enduro race on the Sunday to lead the championship.
The scene was set when Aguilera set the two fastest laps in the early morning Quali session to claim pole position in both Sprint races by just two tenths from GRC regulars Alim Geshev (TT Racing) and last years Vice Champion Usman Mughal (GulfSport Racing).
The Gulf Radical Cup is a highly competitive single-marque event for drivers of Radical SR3 production sport-prototypes. With the SR3’s naturally-aspirated 232bhp RPE built engine revving to 10,500 rpm in a high-downforce car that weighs just 620 kgs, this series has become the winter series of choice, especially for those who also race in international endurance racing. All cars were run this weekend by 5 specialist Radical race teams; GulfSport Racing, RAW Motorsports, TT Racing, DW Racing and Dream Racing.
Although both 25 minute Sprint races were won convincingly by Aguilera, there was close racing behind as drivers fought for championship points. Geshev got the better of Mughal, but only by a small margin as they finished nose to tail to secure their podium places. Lebanese driver Johnny Khazzoum (TT Racing) picked up useful points with 4th and 5th place finishes after having a tough time fighting off series newcomer Alexandr Novichkov (TT Racing) who finished ahead of him in the second race to finish a very creditable 4th.
Highlighting the global appeal of this series, Zig Fuhrmeister (GulfSport Racing), who in his second season is again commuting from Melbourne, Australia to race in the Gulf Radical Cup had a great day finishing in 5th and 6th place. French driver Julien Monie (RAW Motorsports) had a very consistent drive picking up two 7th place finishes despite battling with a group of drivers consisting of Amir Feyzulin (TT Racing) in his 7th season, George Harding (GulfSport Racing), newcomer Andrew Lowe (DW Racing), Ibby Haddid (GulfSport Racing), Peri Deremas (GulfSport Racing), Joel Strijder (GulfSport Racing) and another newcomer to the series, German driver Marcel Kopp (Dream Racing). Current GRC champion Alex Bukhantsov is expected to re-join the series in the new year after finishing his current LMP3 campaign in Europe.
It has become increasingly evident that the Gulf Radical Cup is being used as preparation for those ambitious drivers seeking to make progress in international sports prototype racing, where the next step is perhaps a 950kgs, 460bhp LMP3. This career ladder leads them to the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and ultimately the world’s biggest race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 2021/22 GRC Champion, George King is now a full-time sports prototype racer, 2023/24 GRC Champion Alex Bukhantsov won the 2024 Asia Le Mans Series in an LMP3, and quite clearly young Telcel sponsored Aguilera is being fast-tracked to stardom having already won races in the Ligier European Series (LMP4) and has competed in the Michelin Le Mans Cup in an LMP3.
Sunday’s 45 minute Endurance race with mandatory pit stops for all drivers is the standard for Radical Cup races worldwide. Again it was young Aguilera who was on Pole, but this time with Mughal next to him on the front row. As the race started with its customary rolling start it was Aguilera again in the lead ahead.
Right behind them were Geshev and Mughal going side by side for the first few turns, but Mughal emerged in 2nd.
Watch the first lap of the Enduro from on board with Usmaan Mughal
German driver Kopp had an incident at the club link on lap 5 which brought out the safety car with the race restarting on lap 11 shortly after which the pit lane opened for the mandatory 45 second pit stop. First to dive in were Mughal, Khazzoum, Monie, Feyzulin and Harding. This left Aguilera with a 2 second lead followed by Geshev and Novichkov as they all came into the pits on lap 13.
When the dust had cleared after all pitstops had been completed, Aguilera now had a 7 second lead. Novichkov dropped to 10th after a coming together with Khazzoum at the Club Link whilst Aguilera opened the lead to 10 seconds from Geshev and Mughal which set the podium places for the presentation after the race. Notably, Australian driver Fuhrmeister finished a creditable 4th place, Novichkov climbed back up to 6th and Mughal set the fastest lap of the race at 1:25.196.
The next event takes place at the $1bn Yas Marina Circuit on the 8-10th November when this grid of 14 drivers will be joined by some 10-15 additional Radical racers from Canada, USA, Brazil, Japan, UK, Asia and Europe for the 2024 Radical World Finals powered by Kinetic 7 which will also be live-streamed on YouTube.
