Motor Racing: Radisich closes in: Leader crashes

THE FORD team leader, Paul Radisich, loosened Gabriele Tarquini's grip on the Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship at Knockhill yesterday even though he failed to win either of the day's races.

Although Radisich led the first race, he had victory snatched from him on the final lap by Alain Menu in a Renault. But Radisich bit deep into Tarquini's series lead after the Italian crashed out in spectacular style.

Tarquini emerged unscathed from a double roll in his Alfa Romeo 155 after being struck by Tim Harvey's Renault in the first race. Harvey was later excluded from his fourth-place finish by the stewards as a penalty.

Radisich had led a four-car train for 31 of the 32 laps, harried incessantly by the BMW of Jo Winkelhock, Menu's Renault Laguna and Steve Soper in the second BMW.

Winkelhock was the first to drop out, his car's handling ruined by a brush with Radisich's Ford Mondeo. That left Menu to take up the battle. He won the duel yards after crossing the line to start the final lap.

Radisich, suffering from flu, had to be helped from his car but recovered to race in the second event.

Menu led initially, but five laps from home he ran wide and handed the race to Soper, and then slipped to third when Radisich passed him. It was Soper's first win of the season and the second for the rejuvenated BMW team.