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Jude Bargwanna Secures Alfa Romeo Drive for Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Debut
Rising star Jude Bargwanna will make his debut in the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series at Phillip Island driving an Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR.
Bargwanna will be the third debutant to join the field in 2024, after Glenn Nirwan and Marcus LaDelle, as the field welcomes the Jude Bargwanna Motorsport privateer entry.
Phillip Island will be the first step into an extended campaign for Bargwanna, who has also confirmed his intention to complete the remainder of the 2024 season. The 19-year-old last year claimed the Kumho V8 Touring Car title in his first attempt, following two seasons of open-wheel racing in Formula Ford and S5000.
Running the #179, Bargwanna will be stepping in to race-winning machinery with his Alfa Romeo. The chassis comes from Garry Rogers Motorsport, and was raced to four victories in the 2021 season by Jordan Cox.
The newest Bargwanna to the series will add to an already successful family legacy in the category, with Jude’s cousin Ben Bargwanna currently second in the series and Uncle Jason Bargwanna also a race winner in the category.
The Alfa Romeo took to the track at the hands of Bargwanna today, as he cut his first TCR laps at Phillip Island, as part of a shakedown and test prior to his debut.
Jude Bargwanna will take to the track with the rest of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series field from April 12-14 as part of the Shannons SpeedSeries at Phillip Island. All the action will be live and free on the Seven Network.
Quotes:
Jude Bargwanna – #179 Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR
“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 and got on the phone to Barry 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,” concluded Bargwanna.