Radisich wins wet second BNT V8s race in Taupo
Sunday 5 October 2008, 2:48PM
By The MotorSport Company
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Paul Radisich took a hard-fought victory during an increasingly wet second race for the BNT V8s in Taupo this morning.
The Melbourne-based Kiwi made it virtually a start-to-finish win, having started on the front row of the grid beside yesterday’s race winner and former champion Kayne Scott.
With the start order determined by the finishing order from the weekend’s first race, Scott and Radisich lined up on the front row with Booth and Anderson in row two, demonstrating that the leading Holdens are mixing it with the best of the Fords in the BNT V8s this season. Defending champion John McIntyre was on row three with Andrew Porter beside him.
The race was declared wet by the event director following rain during the morning, so competitors were required to fit the wet-specification Dunlop tyres and watched to see whether rain showers lurking over nearby hills would hit during the 16-lap race.
From the rolling start David Besnard took the Taupo Pak N Save Ford from eighth to fourth, while defending champion John McIntyre was pushed from fifth to eighth during the fierce jostling for position in the first two corners. As the field thundered down the long back straight for the first time, Radisich pulled out on Scott as they braked for the hard left-hander at the end of the straight to take the lead. Andy Booth also bought the Big Ben Pies Holden past Scott’s Fujitsu Ford so across the line for the first time, the top five were Radisich, Booth, Besnard, Scott and Andrew Porter while McIntyre had clawed back into sixth.
McIntyre blitzed past Scott on turn two, Scott’s Ford seemingly not as quick as others on the wet-weather Dunlops, then the defending champion set out after Besnard, attacking again and again before snatching third from ‘Bezzie’ on the seventh lap.
With Radisich holding a comfortable lead, second-place Booth was then in McIntyre’s sights. ‘Johnny Mac’s’ first attempt to pass Booth at the end of the long main straight didn’t quite work, the Castrol Ford passing the Holden, but not making the tight left-hander. Next time around, McIntyre nailed it and set out to haul in ‘the Rat’.
Just a little further back, rising V8 star Michael Bristow was engaged in very entertaining battles with Andrew Anderson and Kiwi racing star Craig Baird and another BNT V8s rookie Dale Williams. And from the disadvantage of starting in 23rd, LG Electronics Ford driver Angus Fogg climbed through the field to twelfth and eventually ninth.
The gap between Radisich and McIntyre became visibly smaller and for the last two laps, McIntyre must have filled the rear-view mirrors of Radisich’s HPM Ford. But Radisich’s experience held true with the former world touring car champion crossing the finish line just seconds ahead of McIntyre. Booth took another podium finish in the brand-new Big Ben Pies Holden with Baird and Scott completing the top five. V8s rookie Dale Williams finished a very credible sixth in only his second race in this class, the young Auckland driver clearly one to watch.
The BNT V8s (formerly the New Zealand V8s) complete their first championship round with a 20-lap full reverse grid race at 3:30pm on Sunday (today).
ENDS/
Photo information: Free to use, please credit SportProMedia/Euan Cameron.
Paul Radisich in the yellow HPM Ford heads for victory in race 2 for the BNT V8s in Taupo with defending champion John McIntyre in hot pursuit.
2008-09 BNT V8s Championship – Race 2, Round 1, Taupo
1, Paul Radisich, Melbourne, Ford Falcon, 75
2, John McIntyre, Nelson, Ford Falcon, 67
3, Andy Booth, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 60
4, Craig Baird, Gold Coast, Ford Falcon, 54
5, Kayne Scott, Hamilton, Ford Falcon, 49
6, Dale Williams, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 45
7, Michael Bristow, Pukekohe, Ford Falcon, 42
8, Angus Fogg, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 39
9, Andrew Anderson, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 36
10, Andrew Porter, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 33
11, Adam Brook, Christchurch, Ford Falcon, 30
12, Paul Pedersen, Rotorua, Ford Falcon, 28
13, John Penny, Taupo, Ford Falcon, 26
14, Inky Tulloch, Gore, Ford Falcon, 24
15, Paul Manuell, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 22
16, Julia Huzziff, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 20
17, Chris Adams, Mosgiel, Holden Commodore, 18
18, Boyd Norwood, Palmerston North, Ford Falcon, 16
19, Tim Edgell, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 14
20, Simon Richards, Hamilton, Ford Falcon, 12
21, Andy Knight, Christchurch, Ford Falcon, 10
22, Cam Hardy, Hamilton, Holden Commodore, 9
N/C, Alan McCarrison, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 0
DNF, David Besnard, Gold Coast, Ford Falcon, 0
DNF, Eddie Bell, Christchurch, Holden Commodore, 0
DNF, John Hepburn, Timaru, Holden Commodore, 0
DNF, Nick Ross, Cambridge, Holden Commodore, 0
DNF, Shaun Turton, Pukekohe, Holden Commodore, 0
2008-09 BNT V8s Championship calendar
Round 1 (Fujitsu 200), Taupo Motorsport Park, 3-5 October 2008
Round 2, Pukekohe Park, 7-9 November 2008
Round 3, Powerbuilt Tools International Raceway (Christchurch), 28-30 November 2008
Round 4, Timaru International Motor Raceway, 9-11 January 2009
Round 5, Teretonga Park (Invercargill), 16-18 January 2009
Round 6, Manfeild Park (Fielding), 27 February - 1 March 2009
Round 7, Pukekohe Park, 20-22 March 2009
[Non-championship trophy round, Hamilton 400 V8 Supercars, 17-20 April 2009]