Paul Radisich

Paul Radisich
Born	(1962-10-09) October 9, 1962 Auckland, New Zealand
Occupation(s)	Racing driver, entrepreneur
Known for	Touring car racing, V8 Supercars

Paul Francis Wade Radisich (born 9 October 1962 in Auckland) is a former New Zealand racing driver and entrepreneur of Croatian descent. His career was predominantly focused on saloon car competitions, including European touring car events and the V8 Supercars series in Australia and New Zealand.

Early years

Radisich secured the runner-up position in Formula Atlantic in 1983 and was awarded the Driver To Europe accolade. During 1985 and 1986, he participated in British Formula 3 alongside Damon Hill. Subsequently, he competed successfully in Indy Lights and Formula Super Vee. His shift to full-time saloon car racing was marked by a second-place finish at the 1990 Bathurst 1000.

European Touring Cars

Radisich claimed victory in the Touring Car World Cup held at Monza in 1993 and at Donington in 1994. He debuted in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) in 1993 driving a Ford Mondeo prepared by Andy Rouse, finishing third overall despite competing only part of the season. The following year, he again secured third place behind Gabriele Tarquini and Alain Menu. However, progress stalled in 1995 as the car’s development lagged, resulting in reduced competitiveness. With West Surrey Racing taking over from Andy Rouse in 1996, Radisich’s Ford team failed to reach podium positions, culminating in a 13th place championship finish. The introduction of a new Mondeo model in 1997 did not improve results, and a move to Peugeot for the 1998 season also yielded disappointing outcomes. Subsequently, he transitioned to compete with Dick Johnson Racing in the Australian V8 Supercar circuit.

At the conclusion of 2004, Radisich took part in the BTCC Masters event at Donington and contemplated returning to BTCC but ultimately chose to continue competing within Australia.

V8 Supercars

Radisich joined Dick Johnson Racing in 1999, replacing John Bowe, and remained with the team until 2002. In 2003, he signed with Briggs Motor Sport, which was acquired by British outfit Triple Eight Race Engineering during 2004. Over this period, he achieved four race victories along with eight additional podium finishes.

Team Kiwi Racing

In 2005, Radisich aligned with patriotic Team Kiwi Racing, marking his first time racing a Holden. He earned TKR’s inaugural podium by finishing third at Shanghai International Circuit and concluded the season ranked 14th—TKR’s best performance to date in the Supercar series.

During the 2006 Supercheap Auto 1000 endurance event at Mount Panorama, Radisich experienced a severe crash while attempting an overtaking maneuver at approximately 200 km/h through The Chase section. This accident resulted in significant injuries including fractures to his ankle and sternum, forcing him out for the remainder of that season.

In November 2006, Radisich extended his contract with TKR for an additional two years and returned to racing with Ford machinery for the 2007–08 seasons, motivated by unresolved goals within V8 Supercars. He made a notable comeback at Barbagallo and secured seventh place at Pukekohe’s final round.

Nonetheless, on 31 May 2007, Ford Performance Racing terminated its agreement to supply and maintain TKR’s Falcon vehicles. Following this dispute, Radisich ended his contract with Team Kiwi Racing citing breach of terms.

Toll HSV Dealer Team

The New Zealand driver joined compatriot Craig Baird along with regular competitors Rick Kelly and Garth Tander as part of the Toll HSV roster for the key endurance events held in September and October.

The official confirmation was postponed until Carrera Cup standout and Bathurst newcomer David Reynolds committed to Super Cheap Auto Racing for the endurance races. Initially slated to race for Toll HSV, Reynolds opted for Super Cheap to make his V8 Supercar debut, thereby sidestepping the pressure linked to a teammate’s championship pursuit.

At Sandown, Radisich partnered with Championship frontrunner Rick Kelly. Kelly secured 8th place on the grid driving the Number 1 Toll HSV Commodore. The duo completed the race in second place, finishing just 2.8 seconds behind Triple Eight Racing’s Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup.

During Bathurst, Radisich joined forces with Craig Baird. They qualified 9th following the top-10 shootout and maintained a position near the top 10 despite ongoing brake troubles that also plagued their teammates. The team ultimately retired on lap 137 of 161 to protect the vehicles of Tander and Kelly ahead of forthcoming championship contests.

Retirement and subsequent endeavors

Radisich made a return in 2008 but encountered a serious accident during practice for the 2008 Bathurst 1000 when his throttle became stuck open at McPhillamy Park Corner, causing him to collide with a concrete barrier. The crash resulted in multiple fractures and injuries, effectively ending his racing career after an extended rehabilitation period.

Later, he competed in a Ford Mustang S550 within the invitational Class Three category of the 2018-19 BNT V8 Championship.

Radisich held the position of team manager at Super Black Racing until it ceased operations following the 2016 season. Currently, he serves as managing director of Aegis Oil, a New Zealand-based petroleum company established by his father Frank.

In addition, Paul co-hosts the British Touring Car Championship segment on TV3’s CRC Motorsport alongside 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	Andy Rouse's 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'
'British Touring Car Championship'	'13th'	'Ford Mondeo'	'West Surrey Racing'
'British Touring Car Championship'	'14th'	'Peugeot 406'	'Motor Sport Developments'
'Shell Championship Series'	'16th'	'Ford AU Falcon'	'Dick Johnson Racing'
'Shell Championship Series'	'4th'	'Ford AU Falcon'	'Dick Johnson Racing'
'Shell Championship Series'	'7th'	'Ford AU Falcon'	'Dick Johnson Racing'
'V8 Supercar Championship Series'	'26th'	'Ford AU Falcon'	'Dick Johnson Racing'
'V8 Supercar Championship Series'	'10th'	'Ford BA Falcon'	'Briggs Motor Sport'
'V8 Supercar Championship Series'	'19th'	'Ford BA Falcon'	'Triple Eight Race Engineering (Australia)'
'V8 Supercar Championship Series'	'14th'	'Holden VZ Commodore'	'Team Kiwi Racing'
'V8 Supercar Championship Series'	'28th'	'Holden VZ Commodore'	'Team Kiwi Racing'
'V8 Supercar Championship Series'	'20th'	'Ford BF Falcon / Holden VE Commodore'	'Team Kiwi Racing / Toll HSV Dealer Team'
'V8 Supercar Championship Series'	'47th'	'Holden VE Commodore'	'HSV Dealer Team'

Full World Touring Car Championship Results

(key) (Bolded race names denote pole positions) (Italicized race names signify fastest laps)

Year	Team	Vehicle	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	DC	Points
1987	Template:Country data NZLTemplate:Namespace detect showall Bryce Racing BMW	BMW 325i	MNZ	JAR	DIJ	NÜR	SPA	BNO	SIL	BAT	CLD	WEL overall:10 class:4†	FJI	NC	0

† Not eligible to score points.

Full Asia-Pacific Touring Car Championship Results

(key) (Bold font indicates pole position) (Italic font represents fastest lap)

Year	Team	Vehicle	1	2	3	4	DC	Points
1988	Template:Country data NZLTemplate:Namespace detect showall Bill Bryce Racing	BMW M3	BAT NC	WEL Ret	PUK Ret	FJI	NC	0

Comprehensive British Touring Car Championship Results

(key) (Races in bold mark pole positions—1 point granted for each from 1996 onward) (Italicized races denote fastest laps) (* indicates leading at least one lap in the feature race—only awarded in 1998)

... [Subsequent years follow a similar format, omitted for brevity] ...

† Competed as endurance driver without point eligibility.

‡ Participated as endurance driver.

Full Japanese Touring Car Championship results

(legend) (Events shown in bold denote pole positions) (Events in italics signify fastest laps)

Year	Team	Vehicle	Category	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Final Standing	Points
1992	Autotech Racing Team	BMW M3 Sport Evolution	JTC-2	AID	AUT	SUG	SUZ	MIN	TSU 23	SEN	FUJ 7	18th place	23 points

Complete V8 Supercar Championship results

... [additional seasons and race details continue in similar format, condensed here for clarity] ...

Supercars performance record
Year	Team	Vehicle	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	Final Position	Total Points
1999	Dick Johnson Racing	Ford AU Falcon	EAS R1 Retired	EAS R2 15th	EAS R3 17th	ADE R4 Retired	BAR R5 13th	BAR R6 4th	BAR R7 3rd	PHI R8 6th	PHI R9 13th	PHI R10 Retired	HID R11 Did Not Start	HID R12 9th	HID R13 12th	SAN R14 4th	SAN R15 3rd ... [content truncated for brevity] ...	16th place	812 points

Complete Bathurst 1000 Results

Year	Team	Vehicle	Co-driver	Final Position	Completed Laps
1988	Template:Country data NZLTemplate:Namespace detect showall Bill Bryce Racing	BMW M3	Ludwig Finauer	19th	113
1989	Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showall Mobil 1 Racing	Ford Sierra RS500	Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showall Brad Jones	9th	153
1990	Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showall Dick Johnson Racing	Ford Sierra RS500	Template:Country data GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showall Jeff Allam	2nd	161
1991	Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showall Dick Johnson Racing	Ford Sierra RS500	Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showall John Bowe Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showall Terry Shiel	DNF	152
1993	Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showall Dick Johnson Racing	Ford EB Falcon	Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showall Cameron McConville	8th	151
1994	Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showall Glenn Seton Racing	Ford EB Falcon	Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showall Glenn Seton	DNF	82
1997*	Template:Country data GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showall Esso Ultron Team Peugeot	Peugeot 406	Template:Country data GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showall Tim Harvey	DNF	70
1998*	Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showall Brad Jones Racing	Audi A4#Audi A4 Quattro	Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showall Paul Morris	DNF	84
1999	Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showallDick Johnson Racing	Ford AU Falcon	Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showallSteve Ellery	DNF	147
2000	Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showallDick Johnson Racing	Ford AU Falcon	Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showallJason Bright	2nd	161
2001	Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showallDick Johnson Racing	Ford AU Falcon	Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showallSteven Johnson (racing driver)	DNF	63
2002	Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showallDick Johnson Racing	Ford AU Falcon	Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showall Steven Johnson	DNF	29
2003	Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showallTriple Eight Race Engineering (Australia)	Ford BA Falcon	Template:Country data SWETemplate:Namespace detect showallRickard Rydell	7th	161
2004	Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showallTriple Eight Race Engineering (Australia)	Ford BA Falcon	Template:Country data BRATemplate:Namespace detect showallMax Wilson	DNF	116
2005	> Template:Flagicon AUSPaul Morris Motorsport	> nowrap  Holden VZ Commodore	> Template:Flagicon AUSPaul Morris (racing driver)	> DNF	>26
> [[2006 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000  \|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\]\]	> Template:Flagicon NZLTeam Kiwi Racing	> Holden VZ Commodore	> Template:Flagicon NZLFabian Coulthard	> DNF	>71
> [[2007 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 \]\]	> Template:Flagicon A USHSV Dealer Team	> Holden VE Commodore	> Template:Flagicon NZLCraig Baird	> DNF	>137
> [[2008 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 \]\]	> Template:Flagicon A USHSV Dealer Team	> Holden VE Commodore	> Template:Flagicon A USRick Kelly	> DNS	>0

• Denotes a Super Touring event