# Paul Radisich

Paul Francis Wade Radisich (born 9 October 1962, in Auckland) is a retired New Zealand racing driver and businessman of Croat origin. He has competed in saloon cars for many years — both European-style tourers and the V8 Supercars of Australia and New Zealand.

## Early years

In 1983 he was Formula Atlantic runner-up, earning the prestigious Driver To Europe award. In 1985 and 1986 he raced in British Formula 3, alongside Damon Hill. He later raced in Indy Lights and Formula Super Vee with some success, before finishing second in the 1990 Bathurst 1000. This led him towards racing saloon cars full-time.

## European Touring Cars

He won the 1993 and 1994 Touring Car World Cup events at Monza and at Donington respectively. 1993 was his first British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season, in a Ford Mondeo prepared by Andy Rouse. He finished 3rd in the series despite only competing in half the year. He would again drive for Andy Rouse in 1994 where he finished 3rd again behind Gabriele Tarquini for Alfa Romeo and Alain Menu for Renault. Radisich would again drive for Andy Rouse in 1995 but by the end of the 1995 season the car had reached the end of its development cycle and was increasingly uncompetitive during the end of the 1995 season and in the 1996 season when West Surrey Racing took over the Ford team from Andy Rouse. 1996 would be a disappointment for the Ford team with no podium places and Radisich finishing 13th in the championship. 1997 would see a new Mondeo however it too was uncompetitive, and would not challenge the front running teams. In 1998 he raced for Peugeot where he again had a disappointing season. He left the series and went to race for Dick Johnson Racing in the V8 Supercar series in Australia.
At the end of the 2004 season, Radisich entered the BTCC Masters event at Donington, and was considering a comeback to the BTCC the following year, but he instead chose to continue his racing career down under.

## V8 Supercars

In 1999 he joined Dick Johnson Racing replacing the departed John Bowe. He remained with Dick Johnson Racing until the end of 2002. In 2003 he joined Briggs Motor Sport which was later sold to British outfit Triple Eight Race Engineering in 2004. In total he has four race wins and eight other podium results in the championship.

### Team Kiwi Racing

He surprised a lot of people by signing for the patriotic Team Kiwi Racing for 2 years in 2005 racing in a Holden for the first time, helping the team to their first ever podium finish at Shanghai International Circuit in China, (third). He finished the 2005 season in 14th place, TKR's highest ever finish in a Supercar season.
In the 2006 Supercheap Auto 1000 endurance race at Mount Panorama he had a major crash at around 200 km/h in The Chase. While attempting to overtake Nathan Pretty he ran wide into the dirt and could not brake in time and careered into a tyre wall head on, flipping the car onto its side. Rescue teams had to cut the roof off the car in order to get him out. He was then taken to a nearby hospital and then flown to a hospital in Sydney for further scans. He broke his ankle and sternum in the crash and missed the remainder of the season.
In November 2006 it was confirmed that Radisich had signed for a further 2 years with TKR and would once again be back racing in a Ford for 2007–08. He has commented that he has unfinished business in V8 Supercars.
Paul returned to the cockpit at Barbagallo for the first time since Bathurst, to the delight of many fans. He had a very good result at Pukekohe, the final round to be held at that circuit, finishing 7th in the third race.
Ford Performance Racing terminated its contract to supply and service the TKR Falcon on 31 May 2007. Paul Radisich said he had terminated his contract with TKR following the team's fallout with Ford Performance Racing that ran the car on behalf of TKR. "TKR is in breach of contract and I have therefore terminated my contract with immediate effect."

### Toll HSV Dealer Team

The New Zealand international joined fellow Kiwi Craig Baird and regular drivers Rick Kelly and Garth Tander in the Toll HSV ranks for the big endurance races in September and October.
The formal announcement was put on hold until Carrera Cup star and Bathurst rookie David Reynolds was signed and sealed with Super Cheap Auto Racing for the enduros. Reynolds had been in line for a drive with Toll HSV in the big races in September and October, but was happy to transfer to Super Cheap for his V8 Supercar debut without the potential pressure of a fellow drivers championship hanging over him.
At Sandown, Paul was paired with Championship front-runner, Rick Kelly. The car was qualified by Rick Kelly, and they started from 8th position on the grid. Paul and Rick Kelly drove the Number 1 Toll HSV Commodore to 2nd place, 2.8 seconds behind Triple Eight Racing's Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup.
At Bathurst, Paul was paired with Craig Baird. After qualifying 9th after the top-10 shootout, Paul and Craig Baird started strongly, and were running on the fringe of top 10 for the majority of the race, slowed by persistent braking problems which also afflicted their more illustrious team-mates. Ultimately, the team withdrew from the race on lap 137 of 161 so as not to risk damaging Tander and Kelly's race cars for the championship battle to come.

### Retirement and later career

Returning to the team in 2008, Radisich crashed heavily during practice for the 2008 Bathurst 1000, after the throttle jammed open at McPhillamy Park Corner, hitting the concrete wall in a gap in the tyre barriers. Radisich fractured both ankles, reopened the fractured sternum sustained in an accident two years prior, fractured lumbar and thoracic vertebrae, cracked ribs and suffered bruising to his lungs. His recovery has been protracted and brought an end to his motor racing career.
Paul raced a Ford Mustang S550 in the invitational non-championship Class Three of the 2018-19 BNT V8 Championship
He was team manager of the Super Black Racing team until the team was disbanded at the end of the 2016 season. He is managing director of New Zealand oil company Aegis Oil, a company founded by his father Frank.
Paul is the in-studio co-host of the British Touring Car Championship segment of TV3's CRC Motorsport with Shaun Summerfield.

## Career results

| Season | Series | Position | Car | Team |
| 1982 | Australian Drivers' Championship | 12th | Ralt RT4 Ford | Paul Radisich |
| 1983 | Australian Drivers' Championship | 4th | Ralt RT4 Ford | Watson Motor Racing Pty Ltd |
| 1984 | British Formula 3 Championship | 12th | Ralt RT3 Golf | Murray Taylor Racing |
| 1986 | British Formula 3 Championship | 16th | Ralt RT30 Golf | Murray Taylor Racing |
| 1987 | American Racing Series | 17th | Wildcat - Buick | Agapiou Racing |
| 1987/88 | New Zealand Gold Star Championship | 1st | Ralt RT4 | |
| 1988 | SCCA Valvoline/Bosch/VW Super Vee Championship | 4th | Ralt RT5 | Ralt of America, Dave Conti Racing |
| 1990 | Australian Endurance Championship | 13th | Ford Sierra RS500 | Shell Ultra Hi Racing |
| 1991 | Formula Toyota Atlantic Championship | 20th | Reynard 91H Toyota | |
| 1993 | British Touring Car Championship | 3rd | Ford Mondeo | Rousesport |
| 1994 | British Touring Car Championship | 3rd | Ford Mondeo | Rousesport |
| 1995 | British Touring Car Championship | 6th | Ford Mondeo | Rousesport |
| 1996 | British Touring Car Championship | 13th | Ford Mondeo | West Surrey Racing |
| 1997 | British Touring Car Championship | 13th | Ford Mondeo | West Surrey Racing |
| 1998 | British Touring Car Championship | 14th | Peugeot 406 | Motor Sport Developments |
| 1999 | Shell Championship Series | 16th | Ford AU Falcon | Dick Johnson Racing |
| 2000 | Shell Championship Series | 4th | Ford AU Falcon | Dick Johnson Racing |
| 2001 | Shell Championship Series | 7th | Ford AU Falcon | Dick Johnson Racing |
| 2002 | V8 Supercar Championship Series | 26th | Ford AU Falcon | Dick Johnson Racing |
| 2003 | V8 Supercar Championship Series | 10th | Ford BA Falcon | Briggs Motor Sport |
| 2004 | V8 Supercar Championship Series | 19th | Ford BA Falcon | Triple Eight Race Engineering |
| 2005 | V8 Supercar Championship Series | 14th | Holden VZ Commodore | Team Kiwi Racing |
| 2006 | V8 Supercar Championship Series | 28th | Holden VZ Commodore | Team Kiwi Racing |
| 2007 | V8 Supercar Championship Series | 20th | Ford BF Falcon Holden VE Commodore | Team Kiwi Racing Toll HSV Dealer Team |
| 2008 | V8 Supercar Championship Series | 47th | Holden VE Commodore | HSV Dealer Team |

### Complete World Touring Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | DC | Pts |
| 1987 | Bryce Racing BMW | BMW 325i | MNZ | JAR | DIJ | NÜR | SPA | BNO | SIL | BAT | CLD | WEL ovr:10 cls:4† | FJI | NC | 0 |
† Not eligible for points.

### Complete Asia-Pacific Touring Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | DC | Points |
| 1988 | Bill Bryce Racing | BMW M3 | BAT NC | WEL Ret | PUK Ret | FJI | NC | 0 |

### Complete British Touring Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position - 1 point awarded all races 1996 onwards) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) (* signifies that driver lead feature race for at least one lap - 1 point awarded 1998 only)
| Year | Team | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | DC | Pts | Class |
| 1990 | Labatt's Team | Ford Sierra RS500 | A | OUL | DON | THR | SIL | OUL | SIL | BRH Ret‡ | SNE | BRH | BIR | DON | THR | SIL | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NC | 0 | NC |
| 1993 | Team Mondeo | Ford Mondeo Si | | SIL | DON | SNE | DON | OUL | BRH 1 | BRH 2 | PEM 8 | SIL 3 | KNO 1 5 | KNO 2 5 | OUL Ret | BRH 1 | THR 2 | DON 1 1 | DON 2 2 | SIL 1 | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 110 | |
| 1994 | Team Mondeo | Ford Mondeo Ghia | | THR Ret | BRH 1 5 | BRH 2 4 | SNE 2 | SIL 1 2 | SIL 2 1 | OUL 2 | DON 1 2 | DON 2 2 | BRH 1 Ret | BRH 2 Ret | SIL 3 | KNO 1 2 | KNO 2 2 | OUL Ret | BRH 1 14 | BRH 2 DSQ | SIL 1 Ret | SIL 2 DNS | DON 1 1 | DON 2 9 | | | | | | 3rd | 206 | |
| 1995 | Valvoline Team Mondeo | Ford Mondeo Ghia | | DON 1 3 | DON 2 6 | BRH 1 2 | BRH 2 DNS | THR 1 Ret | THR 2 6 | SIL 1 2 | SIL 2 1 | OUL 1 Ret | OUL 2 5 | BRH 1 Ret | BRH 2 7 | DON 1 5 | DON 2 2 | SIL 6 | KNO 1 Ret | KNO 2 Ret | BRH 1 14 | BRH 2 Ret | SNE 1 9 | SNE 2 Ret | OUL 1 Ret | OUL 2 12 | SIL 1 18 | SIL 2 12 | | 6th | 130 | |
| 1996 | Valvoline Team Mondeo | Ford Mondeo | | DON 1 Ret | DON 2 8 | BRH 1 5 | BRH 2 8 | THR 1 Ret | THR 2 Ret | SIL 1 Ret | SIL 2 7 | OUL 1 Ret | OUL 2 Ret | SNE 1 Ret | SNE 2 8 | BRH 1 Ret | BRH 2 11 | SIL 1 Ret | SIL 2 9 | KNO 1 7 | KNO 2 9 | OUL 1 Ret | OUL 2 11 | THR 1 Ret | THR 2 Ret | DON 1 17 | DON 2 11 | BRH 1 Ret | BRH 2 Ret | 13th | 27 | |
| 1997 | Team Mondeo | Ford Mondeo | | DON 1 6 | DON 2 7 | SIL 1 Ret | SIL 2 Ret | THR 1 10 | THR 2 10 | BRH 1 Ret | BRH 2 7 | OUL 1 8 | OUL 2 7 | DON 1 Ret | DON 2 Ret | CRO 1 Ret | CRO 2 11 | KNO 1 Ret | KNO 2 Ret | SNE 1 6 | SNE 2 Ret | THR 1 14 | THR 2 12 | BRH 1 Ret | BRH 2 4 | SIL 1 10 | SIL 2 5 | | | 13th | 41 | |
| 1998 | Esso Ultron Team Peugeot | Peugeot 406 | | THR 1 Ret | THR 2 8 | SIL 1 12 | SIL 2 4 | DON 1 11 | DON 2 Ret | BRH 1 8 | BRH 2 12 | OUL 1 12 | OUL 2 13 | DON 1 10 | DON 2 Ret | CRO 1 11 | CRO 2 Ret | SNE 1 18 | SNE 2 10 | THR 1 9 | THR 2 Ret | KNO 1 10 | KNO 2 6 | BRH 1 10 | BRH 2 10 | OUL 1 Ret | OUL 2 Ret | SIL 1 6 | SIL 2 14 | 14th | 31 | |
† Not eligible for points due to being an endurance driver.
‡ Endurance driver.

### Complete Japanese Touring Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | DC | Pts |
| 1992 | Autotech Racing Team | BMW M3 Sport Evolution | JTC-2 | AID | AUT | SUG | SUZ | MIN | TSU 23 | SEN | FUJ 7 | 18th | 23 |

### Complete V8 Supercar Championship results

Supercars results :
| Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | Position | Points |
| 1999 | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford AU Falcon | EAS R1 Ret | EAS R2 15 | EAS R3 17 | ADE R4 Ret | BAR R5 13 | BAR R6 4 | BAR R7 3 | PHI R8 6 | PHI R9 13 | PHI R10 Ret | HID R11 DNS | HID R12 9 | HID R13 12 | SAN R14 4 | SAN R15 3 | SAN R16 4 | QLD R17 5 | QLD R18 5 | QLD R19 6 | CAL R20 Ret | CAL R21 12 | CAL R22 7 | SYM R23 Ret | SYM R24 Ret | SYM R25 WD | WIN R26 5 | WIN R27 5 | WIN R28 3 | ORA R29 10 | ORA R30 5 | ORA R31 5 | QLD R32 Ret | BAT R33 Ret | | | | | | 16th | 812 |
| 2000 | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford AU Falcon | PHI R1 5 | PHI R2 6 | BAR R3 6 | BAR R4 5 | BAR R5 5 | ADE R6 5 | ADE R7 9 | EAS R8 4 | EAS R9 1 | EAS R10 26 | HID R11 Ret | HID R12 16 | HID R13 Ret | CAN R14 15 | CAN R15 9 | CAN R16 8 | QLD R17 5 | QLD R18 6 | QLD R19 Ret | WIN R20 7 | WIN R21 6 | WIN R22 2 | ORA R23 10 | ORA R24 Ret | ORA R25 19 | CAL R26 1 | CAL R27 6 | CAL R28 2 | QLD R29 6 | SAN R30 1 | SAN R31 3 | SAN R32 1 | BAT R33 2 | | | | | | 4th | 1260 |
| 2001 | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford AU Falcon | PHI R1 12 | PHI R2 14 | ADE R3 Ret | ADE R4 NC | EAS R5 5 | EAS R6 3 | HID R7 6 | HID R8 DNS | HID R9 DNS | CAN R10 6 | CAN R11 4 | CAN R12 7 | BAR R13 1 | BAR R14 1 | BAR R15 1 | CAL R16 5 | CAL R17 4 | CAL R18 2 | ORA R19 17 | ORA R20 9 | QLD R21 1 | WIN R22 15 | WIN R23 5 | BAT R24 Ret | PUK R25 17 | PUK R26 8 | PUK R27 19 | SAN R28 20 | SAN R29 6 | SAN R30 Ret | | | | | | | | | 7th | 2109 |
| 2002 | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford AU Falcon | ADE R1 Ret | ADE R2 Ret | PHI R3 8 | PHI R4 3 | EAS R5 14 | EAS R6 9 | EAS R7 9 | HDV R8 17 | HDV R9 27 | HDV R10 Ret | CAN R11 8 | CAN R12 Ret | CAN R13 Ret | BAR R14 24 | BAR R15 16 | BAR R16 Ret | ORA R17 13 | ORA R18 20 | WIN R19 17 | WIN R20 Ret | QLD R21 13 | BAT R22 Ret | SUR R23 15 | SUR R24 6 | PUK R25 Ret | PUK R26 WD | PUK R27 WD | SAN R28 29 | SAN R29 Ret | | | | | | | | | | 26th | 398 |
| 2003 | Briggs Motor Sport | Ford BA Falcon | ADE R1 12 | ADE R1 4 | PHI R3 12 | EAS R4 15 | WIN R5 7 | BAR R6 16 | BAR R7 13 | BAR R8 6 | HDV R9 5 | HDV R10 8 | HDV R11 23 | QLD R12 Ret | ORA R13 Ret | SAN R14 7 | BAT R15 7 | SUR R16 11 | SUR R17 6 | PUK R18 5 | PUK R19 7 | PUK R20 8 | EAS R21 12 | EAS R22 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10th | 1618 |
| 2004 | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Ford BA Falcon | ADE R1 Ret | ADE R2 7 | EAS R3 20 | PUK R4 3 | PUK R5 16 | PUK R6 11 | HDV R7 9 | HDV R8 16 | HDV R9 25 | BAR R10 Ret | BAR R11 Ret | BAR R12 29 | QLD R13 6 | WIN R14 19 | ORA R15 14 | ORA R16 13 | SAN R17 Ret | BAT R18 Ret | SUR R19 12 | SUR R20 7 | SYM R21 9 | SYM R22 21 | SYM R23 14 | EAS R24 6 | EAS R25 2 | EAS R26 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19th | 1188 |
| 2005 | Team Kiwi Racing | Holden VZ Commodore | ADE R1 23 | ADE R2 10 | PUK R3 6 | PUK R4 6 | PUK R5 6 | BAR R6 6 | BAR R7 8 | BAR R8 Ret | EAS R9 32 | EAS R10 18 | SHA R11 6 | SHA R12 5 | SHA R13 3 | HDV R14 6 | HDV R15 8 | HDV R16 27 | QLD R17 29 | ORA R18 12 | ORA R19 9 | SAN R20 8 | BAT R21 Ret | SUR R22 13 | SUR R23 13 | SUR R24 27 | SYM R25 12 | SYM R26 10 | SYM R27 12 | PHI R28 7 | PHI R29 8 | PHI R30 14 | | | | | | | | | 14th | 1384 |
| 2006 | Team Kiwi Racing | Holden VZ Commodore | ADE R1 23 | ADE R2 12 | PUK R3 21 | PUK R4 Ret | PUK R5 14 | BAR R6 31 | BAR R7 6 | BAR R8 15 | WIN R9 20 | WIN R10 Ret | WIN R11 16 | HDV R12 18 | HDV R13 21 | HDV R14 11 | QLD R15 13 | QLD R16 13 | QLD R17 7 | ORA R18 Ret | ORA R19 14 | ORA R20 16 | SAN R21 13 | BAT R22 Ret | SUR R23 | SUR R24 | SUR R25 | SYM R26 | SYM R27 | SYM R28 | BHR R29 | BHR R30 | BHR R31 | PHI R32 | PHI R33 | PHI R34 | | | | | 28th | 1235 |
| 2007 | Team Kiwi Racing | Ford BF Falcon | ADE R1 | ADE R2 | BAR R3 16 | BAR R4 11 | BAR R5 22 | PUK R6 15 | PUK R7 10 | PUK R8 7 | WIN R9 24 | WIN R10 12 | WIN R11 13 | EAS R12 | EAS R13 | EAS R14 | HDV R15 | HDV R16 | HDV R17 | QLD R18 | QLD R19 | QLD R20 | ORA R21 | ORA R22 | ORA R23 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 20th | 96 |
| 2007 | HSV Dealer Team | Holden VE Commodore | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | SAN R24 2 | BAT R25 Ret | SUR R26 | SUR R27 | SUR R28 | BHR R29 | BHR R30 | BHR R31 | SYM R32 | SYM R33 | SYM R34 | PHI R35 | PHI R36 | PHI R37 | | 20th | 96 |
| 2008 | HSV Dealer Team | Holden VE Commodore | ADE R1 | ADE R2 | EAS R3 | EAS R4 | EAS R5 | HAM R6 | HAM R7 | HAM R8 | BAR R29 | BAR R10 | BAR R11 | SAN R12 | SAN R13 | SAN R14 | HDV R15 | HDV R16 | HDV R17 | QLD R18 | QLD R19 | QLD R20 | WIN R21 | WIN R22 | WIN R23 | PHI QR 17 | PHI R24 7 | BAT R25 DNS | SUR R26 | SUR R27 | SUR R28 | BHR R29 | BHR R30 | BHR R31 | SYM R32 | SYM R33 | SYM R34 | ORA R35 | ORA R36 | ORA R37 | 47th | 196 |

### Complete Bathurst 1000 results

| Year | Team | Car | Co-driver | Position | Laps |
| 1988 | Bill Bryce Racing | BMW M3 | Ludwig Finauer | 19th | 113 |
| 1989 | Mobil 1 Racing | Ford Sierra RS500 | Brad Jones | 9th | 153 |
| 1990 | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Sierra RS500 | Jeff Allam | 2nd | 161 |
| 1991 | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Sierra RS500 | John Bowe Terry Shiel | DNF | 152 |
| 1993 | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford EB Falcon | Cameron McConville | 8th | 151 |
| 1994 | Glenn Seton Racing | Ford EB Falcon | Glenn Seton | DNF | 82 |
| 1997* | Esso Ultron Team Peugeot | Peugeot 406 | Tim Harvey | DNF | 70 |
| 1998* | Brad Jones Racing | Audi A4 Quattro | Paul Morris | DNF | 84 |
| 1999 | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford AU Falcon | Steve Ellery | DNF | 147 |
| 2000 | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford AU Falcon | Jason Bright | 2nd | 161 |
| 2001 | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford AU Falcon | Steven Johnson | DNF | 63 |
| 2002 | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford AU Falcon | Steven Johnson | DNF | 29 |
| 2003 | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Ford BA Falcon | Rickard Rydell | 7th | 161 |
| 2004 | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Ford BA Falcon | Max Wilson | DNF | 116 |
| 2005 | Paul Morris Motorsport | Holden VZ Commodore | Paul Morris | DNF | 26 |
| 2006 | Team Kiwi Racing | Holden VZ Commodore | Fabian Coulthard | DNF | 71 |
| 2007 | HSV Dealer Team | Holden VE Commodore | Craig Baird | DNF | 137 |
| 2008 | HSV Dealer Team | Holden VE Commodore | Rick Kelly | DNS | 0 |
* Super Touring race