JASON BARGWANNA JOINS TRANS AM AT SMP

Former Bathurst 1000 winner Jason Bargwanna will make his debut in the National Trans Am Series at Sydney Motorsport Park from November 19-21.

The Garry Rogers Motorsport TCR Australia Series driver will turn his attention to the V8-powered muscle car when the category returns as a support series to the Supercars Championship in a fortnight.

Bargwanna will race a Chicane Tools-backed Ford Mustang prepared by GRM, with an eye-catching livery that is hard to miss.

“I’ve stood back and watched Trans Am from the sidelines like a lot of us have, and I think it’s fantastic,” Bargwanna said.

“When the chance to have a drive came up, I grabbed it with two hands, and it really generated a fire in the belly, so I’m super keen to go have a crack.

“I love the design of the Chicane Tools Mustang, it looks angry sitting still, just like me!

“Chicane Tools is a new premium tool brand available through Burson Auto Parts, and this fire breathing monster is a great way to let the world know.”

GRM will also be fielding a Ford Mustang for James Moffat emblazoned with his father Allan Moffat’s famous Coca Cola livery as revealed by Auto Action several months ago, and so the ex-Supercars drivers will be looking to take it to the regulars.

“I think that there’s a good combination of some talented young guys, some up and coming drivers we’ve seen in other categories, and there’s also a spread of guys that we’ve watched for a while and some destination racers.

“The class is fantastic and to battle with the likes of Moff and Owen Kelly, plus the combination of Mustang, Camaro and Challenger, I really think I’m going to enjoy it.

“It reminds me of those early Supercars that I raced in my day, so I can’t wait to get out there and have a crack.”

Team owner Barry Rogers spoke to Auto Action and echoed these remarks.

“Back to our old Supercar days, back to the late 90s, early 2000s having Barg’s run around in a V8 touring car,” Rogers said to AA.

“Jason will test at Winton on the 11th, we’ll take him and Moffat.”

“At Sydney Motorsport Park the Bargwanna’s wanted to get out there and do something so they’re strapping (son) Ben into an S5000 and Jason into a Trans Am so it’s a great family story.”

Jason Bargwanna, who won a TCR race at Phillip Island earlier in the season, expressed that while the Trans Am will be good fun, the focus remains on the TCR Australia program.

“Our commitment is definitely to the TCR Australia program and what we’re trying to do there,” he said.

“Let’s not lose sight of what the goals are and what we’re all about, but from a commercial point of view, for our partners, these opportunities were too good to refuse.

“To get out there in front of the fans and put on a show in Trans Am before refocusing on our TCR campaign two weeks later at Bathurst where it is going to get very serious.”

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