Motor racing is in the blood for teenage brothers AJ and Brad Lauder – and so is winning.
Heading into the final round of the NZV8s championship at Pukekohe next weekend (April 12-14) AJ, who is 18, and Brad, just 16, stand first and second respectively in the Gold Star championship for the original-specification cars.
That is remarkable but not so surprising when you know the background of the brothers, who are based at Turua near Thames. Their grandfather – and team manager – is Frank Radisich, a top driver in his day, and their uncle is Frank’s son Paul, whose accomplishments include winning two World Cups for touring cars.
“We’ve both done motocross since we were five,” Brad Lauder says. “We’ve always wanted to race – it’s just been in the blood.”
AJ is already a champion, having claimed the 2012 Suzuki Swift Sport Cup. Brad finished seventh in that championship, with a few podium finishes along the way.
Now AJ has a big lead in the NZV8s championship, having finished on the podium in all 12 of his races. Switching from a small, front-wheel-drive car to a big rear-wheel-drive one proved less difficult than expected.
“It took a few runs to get the gist of things,” AJ says. “After following a few people around for a few laps I got on to it pretty fast.”
Advice from the family was a big help. “Paul was a champion at it so you couldn’t go wrong.”
The high-profile Pukekohe V8 Supercar meeting has attracted a big entry of almost 30 NZV8s, including triple champion John McIntyre. “It will be good with a lot of cars around,” AJ says.
Driving is his work and his sport, as he drives trucks for a living. “I enjoy getting around and seeing the country. We’re based by Thames so I get all over the Coromandel and it’s nice seeing it in the morning.”
Sibling rivalry – illustrated by banter in the pits — is always going to be strong when two accomplished brothers compete in the same sport.
“It’s always him trying to get at me, always trying to beat the older brother, but it’s all good fun,” AJ says.
Brad adds: “We don’t do anything silly on the track but I always want to be ahead of him and get the bragging rights.”
He also adjusted quickly when moving from the little Suzuki to the much heavier and more powerful NZV8.
“There’s certainly more power there but it’s been easier than I thought it would be,” Brad says. “They are big old taxis and you have to brake a lot earlier than in a Swift. Granddad and Paul both gave us a lot of tips.
Their Ford Falcons are painted in identical colours, featuring sponsors Discount City Cars and the Radisich company Aegis Oil, except that AJ’s roof is green and Brad’s is yellow.
Both see touring car racing as the most realistic and cost-effective way of developing a motor-racing career in New Zealand and Australia, and aspire to join V8 Supercars.
Frank Radisich says his grandsons certainly have natural talent.
“And they’ve been brought up on it, that makes the difference,” he says. “They were driving cars round the back yard when they were seven or eight.
“I had my doubts about putting Brad in an NZV8 at 16, but he’s absolutely loving it.
The brothers also play rugby together for the Hauraki North under-19 team. AJ is the number eight, Brad the hooker.
“We won the first game of the season last weekend, 23-10 over Pukekohe,” Brad says. And winning is so important for the Lauder brothers.
