Bargwanna set to join Ingall in Ford corner
5/12/2002 22:29 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
Jason Bargwanna has seldom been blue throughout his successful V8 Supercar career...until now.
The effervescent Holden star has been captured by the Blue Oval brigade, announcing his shock signing to Mark Larkham’s Ford-powered team for next season.
Bargwanna, 30, a four-time round winner with Garry Rogers Motorsport, will join the battling Queenslander in a two-car assault on next year’s championship.
One of the most popular figures on the V8 Supercar circuit, Bargwanna’s signing is another coup for Ford, which is also set to snare Holden hero Russell Ingall for Stone Brothers Racing.
“I’m very excited about what’s ahead of me and I see this as a big boost to my career,” Bargwanna told Auto Action magazine.
“The team has proven it can be successful but the step to two cars is a logical way to move the team forward.”
Garry Rogers confirmed the loss in a statement today, but said he'd been testing replacements for Bargwanna over the past few months.
“As a team, GRM and all its staff, including the drivers, have achieved a great deal of success in the past,” he said. “From my point of view, I have enjoyed sharing this success with all of these people including Jason, but it is now time to move on.”
It is not known which drivers are under consideration but Rogers’ latest protégé, endurance rookie Jamie Whincup, is a likely candidate.
Rogers is a successful young talent scout, having nurtured Bargwanna and teammate Garth Tander from V8 Supercar infancy.
Larkham said Bargwanna was a team player, crucial in his decision on a teammate.
He hopes the benefits of a dual-car campaign will immediately be felt, highlighting OzEmail Racing’s meteoric rise this season at the hands of Brad Jones and John Bowe.
Bargwanna will remain in Melbourne and commute to Larkham’s Gold Coast base.
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