Jenson Button Will Drive Updated Radford Type 62-2 At Goodwood Festival of Speed
The Lotus-based Radford Type 62-2 is back and it’s better than ever
by Alina Moore, onRadford announced the Type 62-2 back in 2021. For those of you who do not remember, the Type 62-2 is a sports car based on the Lotus Evora that takes inspiration from the iconic 1960’s Lotus Type 62 racecar – hence the name. Only 62 units will be offered worldwide, and as previously reported, 12 of them will be offered with a special livery: John Player Special (JPS).
An updated version of the Type 62-2 will be on display at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it will also climb the hill. The model will be driven by British racing driver Jenson Button.
When compared to the model announced in 2021, the version to be displayed at Goodwood will bring several technical improvements. The chassis and the spaceframe were developed in cooperation with Rock Engineering, while for the engine Radford asked JUBU for some help. As a result, the supercar now boasts precision engineering and F1 inspired technology. Although it doesn’t specify by how much, the updated version is lighter - in fact Radford went as far as saying that the Type 62-2 the lightest supercar available on the market today.
The upgrades made by JUBU brought the engine lower and more forward, optimizing the center of gravity. Also, the dry sump system and the bespoke exhaust were updated. All these changes improved both power and performance, but again we don’t have any official numbers yet.
Just as a reminder, the Type 62-2 will be offered in three different versions: Classic, Gold Leaf, and JPS (John Player Special). All three of them are powered by a Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter, supercharged V-6 engine, but the output differs. In the Classic version, the engine delivers a total of 430 horsepower, the Gold Leaf a total of 507 horsepower, while in the JPS version the output was taken up to an even more impressive 600 horsepower. The drivetrain features a limited-slip differential and an automatic transmission. Ceramic brake discs are standard on the Radford Lotus Type 62-2 JPS for improved stopping power. First details on the Type 62-2 suggested it will go from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.9 seconds and up to a top speed of 186 mph, but thanks to the new improvements we might see different numbers.
The updated Radford Type 62-2 will be on display in the Michelin Supercar Paddock. During the four-day event the car will take the hill twice a day. Radford promises it will reveal more details hidden within the car.
"Goodwood Festival of Speed is a fantastic event, and I am looking forward to showcasing the driving capabilities and performance of our updated and refined Type 62-2 on the iconic hillclimb. This is an exciting opportunity for both motoring and motorsport fans, and I can’t wait to reveal all of the engineering changes we have made to the car as they come from F1 inspired pedigree," said Jenson Button.
