Radical Cup is heading to Japan in 2027, with four rounds and eight races planned across some of the country’s best-known circuits.
Japan’s already busy motorsport calendar is about to gain another championship, and this one promises plenty of downforce.
Radical Japan has confirmed that the inaugural Radical Cup Japan will take place in 2027, bringing the British sports car manufacturer’s established one-make racing format to the country for the first time.
The championship will feature the Radical SR3 XXR and SR3 XX, with drivers competing in identical or closely matched sports prototypes designed specifically for circuit use.
Radical Cup championships currently operate across 14 countries, with competitors ultimately able to progress to the Radical World Finals. The Japanese series will follow the same basic philosophy: lightweight machinery, substantial aerodynamic grip and close wheel-to-wheel racing.
Four rounds, eight races
Organised directly by Radical Japan with technical and operational support from Craft-Bamboo Racing, the inaugural season is scheduled to begin in May 2027.
Four rounds are planned between May and September, with each event comprising two races for a total of eight across the season. The provisional calendar includes some familiar names. Sportsland SUGO, Mobility Resort Motegi, Tsukuba Circuit and Okayama International Circuit are all expected to host rounds.
Racing begins before 2027
Two track days originally scheduled for late 2026 have been transformed into what Radical Japan describes as prologue events ahead of the championship.
The first is the Radical Japan Exhibition Race, scheduled for 3 November 2026 at Okayama International Circuit. It will effectively serve as a dress rehearsal for the championship, with practice and qualifying followed by two exhibition races.
A second event, the Radical Japan Training Day, will take place at Mobility Resort Motegi on 12 December 2026.
Rather than concentrating solely on racing, the Motegi programme will place greater emphasis on driver development. Participants will receive track time and Time Attack sessions, alongside professional driver feedback and educational opportunities including lectures on vehicle data analysis.
Entries for both events are open to the public. Existing owners can participate with their own SR3 XXR or SR3 XX, while Radical Japan is also offering prospective competitors access to new, in-stock and pre-owned cars, as well as rental opportunities.
A race-ready SR3 XXR package
Radical Japan is also attempting to lower one of the more obvious barriers to joining a new racing championship: getting the correct car onto the grid.
To mark the manufacturer’s official arrival in Japan, it has introduced a limited 10-unit SR3 XXR Launch Package.
Priced from ¥22,833,800 including tax, each car is supplied in a race-ready specification that meets Radical Cup Japan eligibility requirements from the outset. This includes a 1,500cc engine upgrade and the mandatory cockpit safety structure.
For those who would prefer to sample the machinery before committing more than ¥22 million to one, there is another option.
Radical Japan has introduced a test-drive programme costing ¥110,000 including tax, providing prospective competitors with a tailored 30-minute circuit session in an SR3 XXR demonstrator at selected circuits around Japan. Should the participant subsequently purchase a car, the test-drive fee will be refunded as cashback.
A new route into prototype racing
The arrival of Radical Cup Japan adds another avenue for drivers looking to move beyond conventional production-based racing.
The remaining details – including the final 2027 calendar, entry fees and sporting regulations – will be announced at a later date.
More information and pre-entry details are available from Radical Japan’s official website.
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