Paul Radisich by Phillip Whelan

Paul Radisich (born October 9th 1962) son of the famous New Zealand racer Frank Radisich, started his own racing career the age of eight in motocross.

His move to Touring Cars followed a string of major awards in New Zealand, where in 1984 he won the NZ Driver to Europe prize, and headed to the UK to race in Formula Three. He gained pole position in his debut race at Thruxton but ran out of money a short time later. He was also showing strong results in 1986 when he gained a seat alongside future F1 world champion, Damon Hill, but was hampered by a less competitive car.

In 1988 he raced Formula Super Vee in America, winning five of the Championship races before heading south to win the Formula Pacific race at the Adelaide AGP that year. In 1989 he shared the Nissan Mobil series in New Zealand with Peter Brock, driving a Ford Sierra .

Paul Radisich, driving a Sierra for Dick Johnson Racing was runner-up with British driver Jeff Allam in the 1990 Bathurst 1000. The following year he again drove for DJR in the same event with Terry Shiel, finishing in sixth place.

Returning to England in 1993, he competed full-time in the British Touring Car Championship with the official Ford Factory Team in the newly developed Ford Mondeo. The same year he won the World Cup at Monza and repeated the feat the following year at Donnington .

In 1998 he tackled the BTCC again, this time in a Peugeot, but the car's potential was never realised and the manufacturer withdrew at the end of the season. Radisich return to Australia in 1999 to join the Shell Helix Racing team.

During 2000 season the quietly spoken Kiwi, now known as "The Rat" posted some important results for Ford with podium finishes at several rounds and an impressive second at Bathurst.

In 2001 Paul Had two race wins at the Grand Prix support event, but these wins were followed by a series disappointing results. In Perth however he grabbed pole and won all three races. Paired with Steven Johnson, Radisich then backed-up with victory at the Queensland 500.

Leaving DJR, Paul Radisich has transferred to Briggs motorsport for the 2003 season.

Career Highlights

2003

- 10th place V8 Supercar Series
- 7th place Bathurst 1000

2001

- First place Queensland 500 (With Steven Johnson)
- First place Barbagallo Round

2000

- Second place Bathurst 1000 Classic (with Jason Bright)
- Fourth place Australian Touring Car Championship
- First place Sandown Round

1996

- Fourth place Mobil NZ Sprint Series (V8 Supercars)

1994

- First place World Touring Car Cup
- Third place British Touring Car Championship

1993

- First place World Touring Car Cup
- Third place British Touring Car Championship

1992

- First place Nissan Mobil series New Zealand

1990

- Second place Bathurst 1000

1989

- First place Nissan Mobil series New Zealand

1988

- First place New Zealand Drivers Championship

JAN05

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