Paul Radisich to fight for TCR New Zealand title

Paul Radisich has become the biggest name to date to confirm an entry into the new TCR New Zealand series, which will be decided this season across a single meeting at Highlands Motorsport Park next month.

Radisich, a two-time winner of the Touring Car World Cup, will be at the wheel of a Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR run by the M-Developments team as he reverts back to a modern-day touring car, with his most recent outings having come in the Historic Touring Car Series in the Super Touring Ford Mondeo he raced to third in the British Touring Car Championship back in 1994.

“It’s been two-decades since I drove a 2 litre car in anger,” he said, “and I’m very excited about being involved in TCR and look forward to being part of a history making event.

“TCR is a great class and I want to see it happen. It’s world class, so any young driver leaving New Zealand has some great opportunities overseas. It is a cost-effective category, relatively cheap to buy and run for the performance they give and the type of racing that they produce.”

Radisich, who also raced successfully in the Supercars Championship with the likes of DJR and Team Kiwi, has past experience of the Highlands circuit and said he was ready for the challenge.

“It really is a drivers’ track,” he said. “It has a little bit of everything and certainly has Tony Quinn’s (circuit owner) name all over it.”