Swire Coca-Cola Named Official Beverage Supplier of Radford Racing School with New Five-Year Partnership

RADFORD RACING SCHOOL -  Radford Racing School, the nation’s foremost driving and racing school, and Swire Coca-Cola, announced today a five-year partnership agreement that will make Coca-Cola® the exclusive beverage provider of the Chandler, Arizona-based performance driving school. Swire Coca-Cola produces, sells and distributes Coca-Cola® and other beverages, across 13 states, including parts of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

“From NASCAR to Formula 1, our new partnership with Swire Coca-Cola connects us with a global brand that embraces the excitement of high-performance driving and racing,” said Kim Wolfkill, Radford Racing School vice president of sales and marketing. “As one of the longest continually operating performance-driving schools in the country, it’s important to partner with companies that reflect our commitment to best-in-class products and services. Coca-Cola is a revered brand with a long history of supporting motorsports and we’re excited to add their products to the Radford Racing School experience.”

In addition to serving as the official beverage of the school, Swire Coca-Cola and Radford Racing School will collaborate on co-marketing programs that help extend their reach to key auto enthusiast and motorsports audiences. The new partnership also includes a uniquely branded ReFuel Lounge that students will have access to while attending their performance driving courses. Swire Coca-Cola's full line of products features over 350 beverage options, including 250 low or no-calorie options, as well as carbonated and non-carbonated sodas, cold teas, bottled water, sports, and energy drinks, with campus favorites of smartwater, Core Power, BODYARMOR, and Dr. Pepper.

“As the local bottler, we are excited to partner with Radford Racing School, a local business with a nationwide reach.” said Scott Walter, Vice President Field Sales, South Region. “We believe in refreshing the communities we call home and partnerships like this are one of the many ways we do that. We’re excited to be a part of the motorsports community.”

The Radford Type 62-2 declared winner of Michelin Showstopper Award at Goodwood Festival of Speed

RADFORD - Radford’s coachbuilt Lotus Type 62-2 has won the Michelin Showstopper Award at the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The prestigious accolade, voted for by the public, comes after the car made its global dynamic debut at the global event in front of thousands of fans.

Radford proved a major draw with showgoers, with huge numbers of visitors allowed to get up close and see around the upgraded Type 62-2, which was based within the Michelin Supercar Paddock over the four-day event.

An undeniable hit, the Radford Type 62-2 is not only a car that drives well on the race track and the road, but showcases exemplary attention to detail and craftsmanship throughout making it the epitome of outstanding beauty and ultimate performance.

Jenson Button: “Goodwood is always a wonderful event, but driving the Type 62-2 has made my 20th year at the Festival extra special. It’s fantastic to be able to be behind the wheel for the car’s global dynamic debut and show fans what we’ve been working on and it’s a true vindication that those same fans at Goodwood and from across the world have voted for our car as their Michelin Showstopper of the Festival, thank you to every single person who voted.”

Ant Anstead: “Winning the Michelin Showstopper Award is incredible. It was an amazing effort from the whole team to get the car prepared for this event and the positive response we’ve received throughout from fans and from customers in the car has been absolutely outstanding, especially considering the completion from far more established brands.

“It was actually emotional to see the car on the start line for the first time at Goodwood. We are constantly looking for new ways to improve the Type 62-2 so that it is the best it can be. The feedback from our drivers has given us enormous encouragement that the engineering refinements we have made to the car has made it feel and perform even better, ahead of first customer deliveries this year.” 

Richard Bezzant, Marketing Director, Michelin Tyre PLC: “We’re adding another very special car to the winners of the Michelin Showstopper Award today. The Radford is a thing of beauty; a classic-inspired creation by Ant Anstead, Jenson Button, Roger Behle and the whole Radford team. The reaction to the car this weekend has been so positive and the public made a clear choice - this is a showstopper indeed.”

Since its reveal in August 2021, the Radford Lotus Type 62-2 has undergone a host of refinements to make it one of the finest driving cars available, with all models personally signed off by F1 World Champion Jenson Button, who was behind the wheel of the car to take it for its dynamic debut run up the hill on the first day at Goodwood on Thursday.

Engineering partner WCM has delivered a host of tailored manufacturing solutions within the cockpit, alongside several technical upgrades to the chassis and engineering refinements from technical partners like Rock Engineering and JUBU Performance.

In an all-new burgundy colour scheme, the Type 62-2 features Dymag carbon fibre rims with lightweight magnesium centres and an F1-inspired centre lock. JUBU have developed new valve springs, bearings and camshafts and Rock Engineering has lightened the chassis and spaceframe. The Type 62-2 now also features new engine positioning, which has been shifted to allow for the lowest centre of gravity possible, making it one of the world’s lightest supercars.

For more information on the Type 62-2, visit the Radford website: https://radford.co/

Jenson Button to drive the Radford Type 62-2 up the hill at Goodwood Festival of Speed

RADFORD - Radford is confirmed to attend the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed, with Jenson Button driving the Radford coachbuilt Lotus Type 62-2 for its public global dynamic debut on the world-famous hillclimb as a part of the Michelin Supercar Run.

 

The Radford 62-2 is built in a partnership with Lotus and takes inspiration from the iconic 1960’s Lotus Type 62 racecar. Carefully honed to an exceptionally high quality and delivering the purest possible driving experience, the Type 62-2 is a blend of state-of-the-art technology with traditional craftsmanship. True to the classic timeless design of the stunning original Lotus Type 62 from the 1960s, it brings a modern and relevant version of coachbuilding to a new discerning clientele, offering the ultimate in global luxury and personalisation.

 

Jenson Button: “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.”

 

The Type 62-2 has undergone several technical improvements since the announcement of the vehicle in 2021. Working alongside Rock Engineering for the chassis and spaceframe, as well as JUBU Performance for the engine, the heritage inspired supercar now boasts precision engineering and F1 inspired technology. Thanks to the new lightweight subframe and suspension uprights from Rock Engineering there has been a significant reduction in weight, making the Type 62-2 the lightest supercar available on the market today. The JUBU Performance engine package allows for the engine to sit lower and more forward, optimising the centre of gravity, and also offers an updated dry sump system and bespoke exhaust, which both contribute to improved power and performance.

 

The Radford Type 62-2 will be on display in the Michelin Supercar Paddock over the four-day event, taking to the hill twice daily. The Radford team will also be in attendance to display more details hidden within the car.

 

For more information on the Type 62-2, visit the Radford website: https://radford.co/

Radford reveals ultra-exclusive Type 62-2 John Player Special

RADFORD - Radford has today unveiled its Type 62-2 sportscar in an iconic and distinctive John Player Special (JPS) specification. The Lotus Type 62-2 coachbuilt by Radford (The Type 62-2), is limited to just 62 examples worldwide, with each model built precisely to its individual owner’s desired specification. Of those 62 cars, only 12 will be JPS liveried cars, and Radford is now taking build slot applications for this ultra-exclusive model.

The JPS car will make its first official public debut next week at Goodwood Revival. It is the most extreme version of the world’s first modern Radford – and the third and final version of the car to be announced. It sits alongside the 'Classic' version, providing subtle design cues to the original Type 62 Lotus car, and a 'Gold Leaf' version, which pays homage to the race car's iconic Gold Leaf livery.

The JPS Type 62-2 wears a modern twist on the iconic John Player Special livery, which is one of the most famous and significant racing car liveries ever to grace a Formula 1 car. Its legendary black and gold colour scheme is most instantly recognisable from the bodywork of the Lotus Type 72D which Emerson Fittipaldi raced to five victories and championship victory during the 1972 Formula 1 season. The livery was present on Lotus Formula 1 cars until 1986 and the Lotus 98T driven by the legendary Ayrton Senna – it epitomised the glamour era of motor racing in the 1970s.

Mark Stubbs “The Radford Type 62-2 in John Player Special guise, is a very unique proposition. From a design perspective, the JPS car really stands out as being more extreme than its Classic and Gold Leaf siblings, with larger diffusers, air intakes and wheels. Sporting what is certainly the most iconic racing livery ever to grace a Formula 1 car, gives the car a real presence and sense of occasion. Only 12 of these very special cars will be made, making it a very rare car indeed.”

The JPS Type 62-2 offers owners several key enhancements over the Classic and Gold Leaf cars. The JPS is lighter, faster and more focussed than the Gold Leaf car – and is closer to a race car than a road car. It produces an intoxicating 600bhp from a 3.5-litre supercharged V6 engine. This is possible thanks to upgraded pistons, con-rods, camshafts, calibration and a larger, upgraded supercharger.

Jenson Button “The John Player special Type 62-2 is the most extreme Type 62-2 that money can buy. It is low, sleek and powerful and sports one of the most iconic racing liveries ever created – one of the liveries that the heroes of Formula 1 such as Emerson Fittipaldi and Ayrton Senna used to race with, in the cars that made me want to be a driver.

“The JPS Type 62-2 is even more dynamically focussed and extremely capable on both road and track – it’s very light, very fast and nimble – a proper assault on the senses that will hold its own among even the most accomplished track cars. Naturally, it is also embellished with all of the high-end touches of a bespoke coachbuilder such as Radford.”

Also upgraded from the Gold Leaf car are the brakes, the JPS car comes with AP Monobloc calipers and fully carbon ceramic brake rotors, which are 360mm in diameter. These are housed within larger 18-inch front and 19-inch Dymag carbon composite wheels – which lower the unsprung mass, and improve the nimble handling characteristics of the car, yet further. The composite wheels are shod in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.

The design of the JPS is another area where the car differentiates itself from the rest of the range. In every area of the bodywork the car is more extreme than its Classic and Gold Leaf stablemates. At the front of the car, the splitter is more pronounced, providing a race car stance. At the side of the car, the air intakes are larger to cool the more powerful combustion engine, while at the rear, the diffuser is again more extreme than the Classic and Gold Leaf cars, extending further out for increased aerodynamic downforce.

The paintwork on the JPS cars is another area worthy of mention. An exquisitely conceptualised and constructed finish has resulted from many hours of formulation and research. The result on this show car is a beautiful layer of bespoke gold paint which playfully glints through the 10 layers of rich, dark Candy Black. In certain lights and at certain angles, the paint provides a subtle nod to the original JPS colour scheme, but with a modern and exciting twist. The show car wears a gold pinstripe meticulously hand-painted underneath the clearcoat on owner cars.

Radford is inspired by the legendary British coachbuilding company of the same name, which once built cars for a celebrity clientele that included all four of The Beatles. The global company with British heart and soul is co-owned by leading designer Mark Stubbs, broadcaster and motoring specialist Ant Anstead, former FIA Formula One^TM World Champion, Jenson Button and acclaimed business adviser and lawyer Roger Behle.

Radford’s first model of the modern era is built in a partnership with Lotus. While the mid-engine two-seater coupé takes inspiration from the revered 1960’s Lotus Type 62, it utilises the Hethel marque’s latest technologies to deliver the purest possible driving experience. The Radford Type 62-2 is engineered for unadulterated mechanical feel, exceptional engagement and uncompromising poise.

The is the first time the elegant lines of this ultra-exclusive JPS version of the Type 62-2 exterior have been shown; the luxurious interior will be revealed at a future date. The car's design has been led by preeminent automotive designer Mark Stubbs who has taken the project from a sketch to the production-ready car revealed today. Stubbs’ design for the Type 62-2 evokes the spirit of Lotus and the original Type 62 as a homage to the marque's illustrious motorsport history. With support from Radford’s engineers, former FIA Formula One^TM World Champion Jenson Button has fine-honed the dynamic response of the JPS Type 62-2 to ensure the most focussed Type 62-2 driving experience.

Production of the Radford Type 62-2 begins in late 2021, with first deliveries being made in 2022.