The 4th round of the ‘2024 Radical Cup Korea’, the only prototype race car series in Korea, took place on August 24 at Inje Speedium as part of the 2024 O-NE Super Race Championship. This round was particularly significant as it determined the season champion who will qualify for the ‘2024 Radical World Final’ in Abu Dhabi at the end of the year, following events in Las Vegas in 2022 and Portimão in 2023.
The 4th round of the Radical Cup Korea began at 3:40 PM on August 24 and lasted approximately 30 minutes. The race featured six participants across three classes (SR10, SR3, SR1), with Henry (SR10 XXR) securing pole position in the morning qualifying with a time of 1:37.797 seconds. Early on, there was a fierce competition for the lead between Henry (SR10 XXR) and Adam (SR10), while Lawrence (SR10 XXR) and Choi Woong-seon (SR10 XXR) battled for 3rd and 4th places, and Park Won-jae (SR3) and Kim Tae-young (SR1) fought closely behind them. However, significant changes in rankings occurred as the race progressed.
On lap 12, Adam slid into the inside of the hairpin course, colliding with Henry’s vehicle, who had been leading the pack. As a result, both drivers in the leading group had to exit the race. With a calm pace until the last lap, Lawrence, who had been in 3rd place, claimed victory. Although they were from different classes, Kim Tae-young had been applying pressure on Park Won-jae throughout the race and successfully overtook him when he spun out on the final lap, finishing in 2nd overall and 1st in his class. Consequently, Lawrence emerged as the winner in the SR10 class, with Choi Woong-seon coming in 2nd, while Park Won-jae won the SR3 class and Kim Tae-young secured the victory in SR1.
Radical Cup Korea awards points based on qualifying and race results in each round, supporting the driver with the highest points for participation in the Radical World Final, providing an opportunity to compete alongside top Radical drivers from around the world at international events. As of the conclusion of round 4, Kim Tae-young (SR1) leads with a total of 112 points but faces challenges in attending the World Final due to a shortage of participating competitors in other classes.
Therefore, Yu Hyung-jun, who topped the overall standings with 63 points through three rounds, was considered a prime candidate, but he is unable to participate in the second half of the season’s race schedule for personal reasons. This situation shifted the potential for the season championship and World Final opportunity to Henry, who stood in 2nd with 57 points. However, due to an accident, Henry only managed to earn 3 points (for being 1st in qualifying) in the 4th round, ultimately allowing Yu Hyung-jun to claim the title of 2024 season champion in the RADICAL CUP KOREA through consistent performance and steady accumulation of points.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr