NEW RADICAL SEASON SET FOR SA LAUNCH

• Former champion Chris Perini returns to the field

• Teenager Isaac McNeill to make Radical Debut

• Races at The Bend to launch five-round season that sees First Focus return as key partner

A BRAND-NEW season of First Focus Radical Cup Australia launches into life this weekend at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park at The Bend, in South Australia.

The fifth season of the revived one-make Radical championship welcomes First Focus back as a title partner for the second season, continuing a long relationship with Australia’s #1 provider for managed IT services for organisations and businesses in Australia and New Zealand.

This weekend the championship joins forces with Round 3 of the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) to be held on the fast and flowing 4.9km International layout at The Bend.

The 15-strong field looks set to feature a highly competitive fight for the title with defending champion Cooper Cutts having made the move into GT racing this year.

That leaves two former champions in the box seat to pick up where they left off, led by last year’s runner up, Peter Paddon.

Paddon returns following incredible success in the Radical European Cup event at Spa Francorchamps last week – claiming a dominant win in race two of the weekend at the iconic Belgium circuit.

Meanwhile, 2022 champion Chris Perini makes a racing return this season following time away from the sport to focus on his young family.

The Sydneysider has five race and three round wins to his credit since 2022 and was one of the series’ most dominant figures in its first season back on the national landscape. Both will again be fielded by GWR Australia this season.

Back for more this year include a four-strong attack from Volante Rosso Motorsport, who bring teenager Isaac McNeill to the mix looking to follow in the footsteps of their own former series champion, Alex Gardner.

The 16-year-old from Queensland was the runner up in the AU4 open-wheel championship last year and shifts to the one-make Radical platform in a bid to continue his career progression.

He’ll be joined at VR by the two-driver combination of Peter Clare and Josh Hunt – who is locked in for the full season alongside his GT racing commitments - plus Bill Medland and the returning James Hernandez.

The latter scored his first class win at Sandown last season and is expected to challenge in the competitive Masters Cup again this year.

Arise Racing aren’t short of firepower either as the team from the West looks to back up their 2025 title.

Dynamic duo Chris Reindler and Bryce Moore return to share the #8 LEE entry while Brad Russell is back to defend his impressive 2025 Masters Cup campaign.

Arise will also field entries for newcomers Clint Hancock and John DiGiovanni.

GWR Australia’s mix is bolstered by the returning international Ibby Hadeed, while Sue Hughes is back for another season aboard her The PPF Studio entry – as is Stephen Champion.

Tony Mercer and speedy Victorian Zig Fuhrmeister are back for more to complete a highly competitive field.

The on-track program this weekend includes two 30-minute practice sessions and qualifying on Friday ahead of four 20-minute sprint races to be held across Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Action will be live streamed on the ASBK Social media channels this weekend.

ENTRY LIST - ROUND 1