Radford Motors is a global luxury car brand with British roots. The company develops contemporary luxury commissions faithful to classic and timeless designs, following a simple motto: “Design. Build. Drive.” One of its vehicles is the Type 62/2, developed in collaboration with Lotus. But now, the company has prepared a unique version of the car specifically for Pikes Peak.
The efforts of teams around the world, including key partners and suppliers, lead to the creation of the Pikes Peak Edition Type 62-2. For example, the design was completed in France, the transmission was produced in Austria, and the 3D printing of the car’s carbon monocoque was carried out in the UK. Final assembly took place at Radford’s new headquarters in California.
Rally and race car driver Tanner Foust will be behind the wheel of this vehicle in this year’s hill climb race – he has proven his capabilities by winning a class in the 2021 edition of the event. So the question is, does the car have what it takes to take another win? Let’s take it step by step and see how the unique vehicle was built.
The mind behind the design of the Pikes Peak Edition is Alan Derosier of Legend Automobiles – everything has been designed with the mountain course in mind. For example, a massive rear wing was installed, as well as a complex cooling system that handles the increased power and decreased air density at Pikes Peak.
Photo: Radford
Derosier collaborated with Crown Concept’s Sam Ofsowitz to bring the concept to life using CAD (computer-aided design). Stratasys took care of the prototype’s bodywork and tooling: more than 70 parts were 3D printed at the company’s headquarters in Minnesota, including the front splitter, fenders, brake ducts and more. And finally, Aria supplied the composite materials for the vehicle.
The car’s exterior is wrapped in the iconic black and gold JPS (John Player Special) livery, as Radford now owns its trademark. In fact, this is the first time in a long time that the JPS colors have reappeared in international sport – Ayrton Senna and Johnny Dumfries last drove F1 cars wrapped in black and gold in 1986.
Inside, you’ll discover a central seating position with a lightweight FIA-approved Tillet seat, tipping the scales at just 3.7kg (8lbs).
As I mentioned before, everything in this car is made to help it tackle the challenging mountain course. Its performance components perfectly reflect its purpose. The Type 62-2 Pikes Peak Edition weighs just 861 kg (1,898 lb), with the same bodywork as the standard Type 62-2.
Photo: Radford
However, the bodywork was widened by 230 mm (9 in), with a full composite monocoque, as opposed to the aluminum-based chassis of the road car. Other changes include a large gooseneck airfoil and a low new design. It goes without saying that extensive computer simulations were done to ensure optimal aerodynamic efficiency and the highest possible downforce.
Of course, the vehicle was equipped with a suitable powertrain, which allowed it to achieve good performance in the race. JUBU Performance developed a custom transmission that produces 710 hp (529 kW) from a supercharged 3.5-liter V6 DOHC engine connected to a sequential paddle shift gearbox. It allows the racing car to reach a top speed of 160 mph (257 km/h), sprinting from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in less than 2.2 seconds.
Radford teamed up with Mobil1 to craft an oil blend that delivers excellent performance in Pikes Peak’s high-altitude climate. In addition, Optima Batteries has offered its lightest battery for use in the car.
AP Racing’s braking system delivers adequate stopping power via carbon discs, pads and a pedal box. The Pikes Peak Edition rides on new Yokohama soft compound tires fitted with Dymag carbon fiber wheels with machined aluminum hubs, wider than the 62-2 road type.
Photo: Radford
The Scarbo Performance team, known for rapid development and engineering for complex racing programs, has also contributed to the development of the race car since January.
Testing for the Radford Type 62-2 Pikes Peak Edition will begin at the Radford Racing School, the company’s official test track in Phoenix, Arizona, where the road version of the car was also tested. Traditional test sessions are the final steps before entering the competition. We have little to wait until the exciting event begins, and we will see the Pikes Peak Type 62-2 edition in action.
