18 PAUL RADISICH

THIRD IN 1993 AND 1994

There was no World Touring Car Championship to gun for. After a oneoff season in 1987, and before it was revived in 2005, domestic victories were the best that a professional touring car driver could aim for.

In 1993 and 1994, however, there was the World Touring Car Cup. It brought together the best Super Touring drivers from around the globe for a winner-takes-all showdown in 1993 and 1994. That suited Paul Radisich, known by his peers as the nickname The Rat, perfectly.

The Kiwi, who had a background in single-seaters and came to Europe as a search for a star competition, joined forces with Andy Rouse in 1993 to campaign the new V6 Ford Mondeo. The car only appeared in the latter part of the season as it was under development.

When it did appear, it was a rocket ship. Radisich won three times and finished third in the points despite missing the opening seven rounds. He went to Paul Ricard for the Touring Car World Cup, and dominated – something he also achieved in 1994.

Those would be his biggest Super Touring successes. He was third in the British Touring Car Championship in 1994 in a Mondeo and stayed with Ford through to the end of 1997, although the results failed to come as the car was uncompetitive.

Radisich switched to Peugeot for a single season in 1998 but that was the end of his UK career. He left the BTCC with six wins.