Motorsport: Radisich off to bumpy start at Bathurst

New Zealand V8 Supercar driver Paul Radisich's dream of celebrating his 43rd birthday with an elusive Bathurst 1000 title hit an early snag when he spun out during the opening practice session yesterday.

Radisich cannoned into a wall after losing control on turn one, four laps into the two-hour training session.

The impact, at a mercifully sedate 100km/h, limited the damage though his Team Kiwi Racing Holden Commodore sustained panel damage and a rear watts linkage also snapped, forcing the pit crew to remove and realign all four wheels.

Radisich said of his scrape: "I went a little wide on turn one and the back of the car got onto the top of the curve and turned it around. It skidded into the inside wall.

"It's the slowest corner on the track and the one you take least interest of."

The incident cost the team 45 minutes of practice, though co-driver Paul Morris was able to complete a couple of laps late in the session.

Despite the setback Radisich, competing in his 14th Bathurst, was confident a podium finish could be achieved on Sunday. "I think we're the dark horse of the field."

Radisich and Morris predictably finished outside the top 10 in the first qualifying session, posting the 23rd-fastest lap in a field of 34.

Their best effort around the 6.2km circuit at Mount Panorama was a time of 2m 10.992s.

Australian Craig Lowndes, in the Team Betta Electrical Ford Falcon, led the field with a scorching 2m 08.1715s.

New Zealand's Greg Murphy (Super Cheap racing Auto Holden Commodore) opened his campaign for a three-peat of Bathurst victories in promising style with a highly competitive 2m 08.5622s lap.

- NZPA