Jason Bargwanna scores Peugeot’s first win in TCR Australia
GRM Customer Racing’s Jason Bargwanna scored his and Peugeot’s maiden victory in TCR Australia in a thrilling Race 3 at Phillip Island.
Chaz Mostert (Melbourne Performance Centre, Audi RS 3 LMS) was set to claim his third win in the weekend, however after leading for most of the race, he was forced to pit to replace the front right tyre, handing the leadership to Bargwanna who was followed by Tony D’Alberto (Wall Racing, Honda Civic Type R) and Nathan Morcom (HMO Customer Racing, Hyundai i30 N).
Despite this setback, Mostert retained the leadership in the standings, as both his closest rivals Luke King (Melbourne Performance Centre, Audi RS 3 LMS) and Lee Holdsworth (Ashley Seward Motorsport, Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce) ran into troubles as well.
At the start, King pipped Mostert who was on pole and led the field, while D’Alberto moved into P3 ahead of his teammate John Martin and Jason Bargwanna. King’s leadership was short-lived as he spun off during the opening lap and rejoined at the back of the field.
Mostert inherited the first position; behind him Jason Bargwanna passed Martin and D’Alberto, climbing to second.
Further behind, Morcom overtook the Peugeot 308 cars of Aaron Cameron (Garry Rogers Motorsport) and Ben Bargwanna (GRM Customer Racing) joining the trio of Honda drivers – D’Alberto, Martin and Michael Clemente – who were fighting for P3.
In lap 10, Mostert’s pace faded, and Jason Bargwanna closed the gap; despite a trip on the grass, Bargwanna did not lose contact and in lap 12 he took the lead when the right front tyre of Mostert’s Audi exploded. Mostert pitted and eventually finished the race in 18th place.
During the final laps, Morcom was able to pass both Clemente and Martin to claim third behind D’Alberto, while Ben Bargwanna overtook Dylan O’Keeffe (Garry Rogers Motorsport, Renault Mégane RS) to finish in sixth position.
King was classified 15th and Holdsworth 19th after making a pit stop while he was running 10th.
Jordan Cox (Garry Rogers Motorsport, Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce), who was the points leader after the season opener at Symmons Plains, did not start as the team has not enough time to repair his car after the incident in Race 2.
The championship will resume at Bathurst Mount Panorama on 3/4 April.
Phillip Island – Race 3
1. Jason Bargwanna (GRM Customer Racing, Peugeot 308), 15 laps
2. Tony D’Alberto (Wall Racing, Honda Civic Type R), 1.8157
3. Nathan Morcom (HMO Customer Racing, Hyundai i30 N), 2.3090
4. John Martin (Wall Racing, Honda Civic Type R), 2.4907
5. Michael Clemente (M. Clemente Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R), 2.8907
Championship points
1. Chaz Mostert 212 pts; 2. Luke King 197; 3. Lee Holdsworth 187
Picture: TCR Australia
