‘NO FREE TICKETS’ WHEN FATHER AND SON HIT TRACK
HE’S the son of a gun and this week in Tasmania, Sydney teenager Ben Bargwanna hopes the apprentice becomes the master.
Ben’s dad is former Supercars hot-shot Jason Bargwanna — veteran of 377 supercars races, winner of three pole positions and seven races, including the biggest of them all, the Bathurst 1000.
Ben, 19, hopes to be a chip off the old block. The father and son are going head-to-head
in identical Peugeot 308s in the opening two rounds of the TCR national series at Symmons Plains on Monday and Tuesday and this coming weekend will lock horns at Baskerville Raceway.
“It’s great to be out there with him,” Ben said. “Everything I have learned about my motorsport career so far has been through him. To be out there with him, experiencing the same thing I am, is really cool.
“We can discuss things and we can learn together, so that side of it is great.”
Jason started his career in Formula Vees in 1980 and went on to win Bathurst when it had a 1600cc class in 1990 before claiming the King of the Mountain title with Garth Tander in 2000.
“Dad has always been there for me and he has taught me everything I know,” Ben said.
“It’s also good because I can learn from him with him being out there doing the same thing I’m doing — he will be able to give me a lot of feedback.
“It’s exciting to be racing with him.”
Jason had his first Supercars podium at Symmons Plains in 1994, and did it again the following year.
“To be back here racing again is exciting,” Jason said.
“Ben knows that if he wants to beat me he’s going to have to earn it — there are no free tickets.
“I’m getting toward the end of my career and he’s just starting his, so to be able to do this together is pretty special.”