Motor Racing: Radisich makes debut victory

PAUL RADISICH, of New Zealand, earned Ford their 200th British Touring Car Championship win after leading from start to finish in the 13th round of the Auto Trader / RAC series at Brands Hatch yesterday. Radisich's debut victory in his first season at this level in Britain also marked the first victory for the new Ford Mondeo.

Steve Soper, who snatched second place from Robb Gravett in the closing stages, was demoted to third after the race stewards ruled that he had gained an unfair advantage by passing Gravett on the grass on lap 33. Will Hoy, in a Toyota, and Kieth Odor, driving a Nissan, were fourth and fifth respectively.

In the closest race this season, the first five cars across the finish line were separated by less than two seconds.

The championship leader, Jo Winkelhock, of Germany, was blocked out at the first corner by Radisich and the Vauxhall driver, David Leslie. On lap four Winkelhock and Leslie clashed again and span off the track, losing their places.

Winkelhock, driving a BMW, recovered in dynamic style, fighting back to sixth place and establishing a new lap record before a punctured tyre ended his run four laps from home.