Bargwanna gets maiden TCR round win in style

Ben Bargwanna has claimed his maiden TCR Australia round win in style by overcoming reigning champion Josh Buchan in the Sandown finale.

Heading into the final race the fight for the round was on a knife-edge with the top four of Buchan, Jordan Cox, Bargwanna and Zac Soutar separated by just two points.

But only one of them could finish on top and it was Bargwanna who took his second win in as many days thanks to a rapid start despite Buchan being on his tail throughout the first half of the race.

However, Bargwanna resisted the early challenge from the #1 and then charged to a commanding 3s win to complete the round win and Peugeot’s Sandown sweep.

The other driver to win a race this weekend joined Bargwanna and Buchan on the podium with Zac Soutar and impressive rookie Ryan Casha rounding out the top five.

Having been buzzing after opening the season with a race win, Bargwanna was beyond ecstatic to kick off 2024 with a round win, celebrating in typical joyful family style.

“How good is that! This honestly feels so good and a massive relief,” he said.

“We have worked so hard for it and I cannot thank my family sponsors and the team enough.

“I am speechless.”

He also gained strong praise from Buchan who said “I don’t know many guys who can keep racing like that”.

Buchan started from P1 in the #1 with Bargwanna on the front row, but it was the Peugeot that got the jump and soared around the outside and into the lead ahead of the Hyundai.

Behind them Cox slotted into third with himself, Soutar and Casha keeping hold of their respective grid places, while Clay Richards and Tony D’Alberto were racing hard for sixth.

To round out the intense opening lap, Brad Harris punted Tom Oliphant off the track before the final turn.

The lead group spread out slightly as the race progressed with Bargwanna holding his lead over Buchan to around four tenths and Cox looking safe in third.

By lap 7 the lead pair had pulled 3s on Cox and the reigning champion was looking much more of a threat being the only driver to record a 1:15s lap time.

It was at this moment when Buchan had his first look at Bargwanna at the end of Dandenong Road with the gap fluctuating between one and four tenths.

Bargwanna responded by pulling the gap back beyond half a second and soon Buchan had nothing left in the tank.

By lap 15 Bargwanna’s lead was beyond 2s after Buchan ran slightly wide at the final corner.

This proved to be the defining moment as Bargwanna enjoyed an untroubled run to the chequered flag.

Bargwanna heads to round 2 of the TCR Australia season at Symmons Plains on March 15-17 as the man to beat with a two-point lead over Buchan.

2024 TCR Australia round 1 race 3 results

2024 TCR Australia championship standings

1: B. Bargwanna 125

2: J. Buchan 123

3 J. Cox 119

4 Z. Soutar 116

5 R. Casha 108

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