Motorsport categories are a great way to sharpen the skills of all who take part. Drivers, team management and mechanics are all put under the microscope during the intense competition of door-to-door racing. A relatively new racing category such as the MINI CHALLENGE is always going to provide new opportunities to those eager to learn. Two apprentices from Trivett Classic MINI Garage in Sydney were recently granted a chance to join the Bargwanna Motorsport pit for last weekend’s final round, held at Oran Park.
According to Jason Bargwanna his team’s two new charges Russell Hueffel and Anthony Wilcockson took to being a part of a professional race team like ducks to water, “We set them a few interesting tasks throughout the weekend and they handled them well,” he said.
“Nothing was too much trouble and they fitted in seamlessly with our team. It was a great weekend for them to experience motorsport for the first time. It’s not normal that someone is on a winning team in their first experience! This is something that we’re keen to continue next year with Trivett Classic MINI Garage and expand upon throughout the entire MINI Challenge season.”
Bargwanna himself made a big impression on the 2008 MINI CHALLENGE, winning 10 races after joining the series in Round 4. The former Bathurst champ was planning on running in a V8 category for 2008, but is rapt to be doing so well in his 4-cylinder MINI,
“It’s great to be winning again,” the enthusiastic Bargwanna beamed.
“At the start of the year we were at a loose end, when eight cylinders didn’t materialise under the bonnet, we were wondering what was going to happen, but I had the opportunity to drive the UBER-STAR CAR at round one. Following on from that, I got the bug—the MINI Challenge cars are a fantastic racecar and in reality provide some pretty serious bang for your buck.
“We were able to pull the deal together to run the team with Scotty and our Dads with help from Justin Hocevar at MINI, along with sponsors such as Trivett Classic MINI Garage, Matchmaster TV Reception Systems, JCB and Bottle-O. It’s been a top season for us and to do it with your entire family involved, it’s pretty special.
“Unquestionably, the highlight was the second race at Bathurst. I came into the Chase on the last lap fifth and ended up winning the race! It was probably the most enjoyable race that I’ve had in my career and all season the racing was like that.
“There is a great mix of drivers throughout the field and if anyone was looking to get into motorsport in a professionally run Series, then I would definitely recommend MINI Challenge as the way to go.”
The MINI CHALLENGE is planning big things for 2009. Stay reading AUSmotive.com for details as soon as they come to hand.
PHOTO CAPTIONS
- Jason Bargwanna shows cousin Scott a clean pair of heels in MINI CHALLENGE action at Oran Park. Photo by Dirk Klynsmith/MINI CHALLENGE Media.
- Scott and Jason Bargwanna (front) are joined by Trivett Classic MINI Garage apprentices, Russell Hueffel and Anthony Wilcockson, for the final round of MINI CHALLENGE at Oran Park. Photo by Dirk Klynsmith/MINI CHALLENGE Media.