Jude Bargwanna will join the TCR Australia field for the third event of the season at Phillip Island next week, getting behind the wheel of an Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR in his privateer entry.
Bargwanna, 19, is planning to contest the remainder of the 2024 season in the car which was raced to four victories by Jordan Cox in 2021 and which has been acquired from Garry Rogers Motorsport.
The latest Bargwanna to join the series, Jude will be up against his cousin Ben Bargwanna, whilst his uncle Jason Bargwanna has also previously raced in TCR Australia.
Bargwanna claimed the Kumho V8 Touring Car title at his first attempt last year, and previously spent two seasons competing in open-wheel racing in Formula Ford and S5000.
“I’m stoked to go racing, I haven’t raced a car since November last year,” said Bargwanna. “To get the opportunity to jump in one of these TCR cars, I’m super thankful.
“It’s been real last minute; the deal was put together just a week ago. We’re here with two car trailers and just Dad and myself running the car at the moment.
“We’ll run our own show here at Jude Bargwanna Motorsport. I’ve called up a few school mates to come in and help us next week at Phillip Island. It’s real exciting, to be running our own thing, and something I’ve been looking forward to.
“I watched the last race in Tassie [Symmons Plains] and got on the phone to Barry [Rogers at GRM] pretty much the next day, and we had a chat about leasing a car.
“I know TCR is a great formula and I’ve been following it for a while with Ben in the category. I’ve also worked with GRM at the racetrack on these cars a few times as well.
“I have had some good results at Phillip Island in Formula Ford and other categories, it’s a special place in Australian motorsport and one of the best circuits in the category.
“At this stage we don’t have a lot of expectations, it’s going to be very new coming off what I’ve driven previously.
“I’m just looking forward to getting in the car, and we’ll take it round by round.”