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One of the most famous surnames synonymous with Australian and International touring car racing will return to it’s Open Wheel roots in the 2007 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship.
Mathew Radisich - the nephew of former World Touring Car Champion and current V8 Supercar ace Paul - will join the championship in 2007 and will in the process return the Radisich family name to where it began in Australian Motorsport over 25 years ago.
Mathew, 18, has experience in state and national-level Formula Ford in both Australia and New Zealand and will drive a Spiess Opel powered-Dallara F304 in a family-supported Radisich Motorsport team that will include support from his vastly experienced Uncle.
The quietly spoken teenager races with the nickname ‘The Mouse’, following the lead set by his uncle who is commonly known as ‘The Rat’ in Motorsport circles.
Radisich will make his Formula 3 debut in the non-championship support races at the 2007 Formula 1 ING Australian Grand Prix this March, before – funding permitting - going on to complete a selected campaign throughout the remaining seven rounds of the 2007 Australian Drivers Championship, returning the Radisich name to a series that his Uncle starred in throughout the early 1980s.
Paul Radisich began his domestic career in Open Wheel racing, scoring a fourth placed finish in the 1983 Australian Drivers Championship in a season also included a start in the Australian Grand Prix (then held at Calder Park) where he finished 7th.
He then departed for Europe, racing against the likes of Damon Hill in British Formula 3.
Now a driver for Team Kiwi Racing in the V8 Supercar Championship, Radisich then won two World Touring Car Cups and twice finished second in the British Touring Car Championship.
The Radisich Motorsport team purchased the ex Swiss Racing Team 2004-specification Dallara, powered by a Spiess Opel engine, mid last year and has spent the last season preparing it for its racing debut this March.
“It’s really exciting to be joining the championship. I’ve been waiting and waiting for this so it’s great that it’s finally going to happen,†Mathew enthused.
“I have to thank all my sponsors and supporters for getting me here – without their help I couldn’t have got to this level.
“Formula 3 is looking really good this year. The class has stepped up to a new level and it’s a really good field. I know it will be a challenge but hopefully there will be some really good battles for me throughout the year.
â€As a driver I’d love to be at the front, so hopefully as the season goes on I can get up there.†He said.
Despite having limited experience in his still burgeoning career, Radisich said that he was confident that the learning curve wouldn’t be insurmountable.
“I think the only disadvantage I have is that I don’t have any experience in Wings and Slicks cars before joining Formula 3, and that I only know Winton, Sandown, Phillip Island and Eastern Creek,†he explained.
“I might not have raced at the track, but it’s going to be great to race at the Grand Prix. It’s always great to race in front of the F1 crowd and show what you can do.
“I’ve been putting in a lot of miles testing on the PlayStation to learn the Albert Park circuit in time for the Grand Prix, so I’ll be ready for that!†he joked.
Paul Radisich will take a hands-on role in Mathew’s career, set to become a driver mentor for the 18-year-old driver in his first year in a Formula 3 car.
â€It looks like he will come out to a couple of test days with us and help us out – not with the car but mainly to help my driving and bring that along,†Mathew explained.
“Paul hasn’t told me a great deal about what he did in Open Wheel racing, I probably know more about what he’s done in the Touring cars lately, but it will be great to have someone of his experience helping me out.â€
Mathew’s car will be supported by McDonalds New Zealand, HT Leads, Ullrich Aluminium, Competition Systems and Concept racegear.
The team is still looking for a major sponsor to fully fund their 2007 campaign.
