Radisich to make NZ circuit racing return in January

Radisich to make NZ circuit racing return in January

Kiwi motor racing icon Paul Radisich will be back on the grid in New Zealand for the first time since 2008 when he races a classic Ford Mustang at the forthcoming New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing celebrating BMW Motorsport at Hampton Downs over the weekends of January 20/21/22 and 27/28/29 2012.

Radisich – a two time touring car World Cup champion now living in New Zealand for the first time in 25 years – has returned to become CEO of the new V8 SuperTourer series. A serious crash at Bathurst in 2008 brought his international racing career to a halt and he has not raced on a regular basis since. He jumped at the chance to drive the famous Fleetwood Mustang when owner and friend Neil Tolich put the idea to him, however.

“I had a call from Neil who invited me to share the Mustang at Hampton Downs in January. Neil advised me that the car will not be the fastest there as by the sounds of things the class is wide open,” he explained.

It is not Radisich’s first foray into historic racing. He made his post-Bathurst circuit racing return earlier this year at the world famous Goodwood Revival meeting in the UK, winning the St Mary’s Trophy race in a Ford Galaxie. He also teamed up there with another Kiwi mate Roger Wills and did a few races in a CanAm McLaren M1B.

“I have never competed or driven at Hampton Downs so I am looking forward to that experience, all competitors have raved about the circuit so here is my chance to judge it for myself. I have had experience with the Galaxie in the UK and also a V8 Cyclone and a Lotus Cortina which Roger Wills and I competed with in Europe together, so you could say I have enough experience with the old cars on the grooved tyres." Radisich will race the car over both weekends of the event but isn’t aiming to break any V8 lap records.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun and they will be fantastic back-to-back weekends of great motorsport. The key to me going fast in the Mustang will be seeing how far you can hang the car out in a power slide without losing it. That is the difference between modern and historic racing – I can enjoy some big power slides in the Mustang and it should help the times. Having fun and enjoying the event will be paramount though.”

ENDS

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