Warragul-based former Supercars star Jason Bargwanna has become the 20th inductee into the Baw Baw Shire’s ‘Sporting Walk of Fame’.
In an Australian Supercars racing career spanning over 15 years, Bargwanna competed in 377 races – winning seven, finishing on the podium 23 times, and collecting three pole positions.
Following this success, in 2011 Bargwanna left the Australian V8 supercars series – as it was then known – and joined the New Zealand V8 Touring Car Championship, where he was equally as successful.
Bargwanna commenced his racing career in the late 1980s and his big break came in 1997 when he was selected as one of Holden’s Young Lions and raced for Garry Rogers Motorsport. He made his V8 Supercars debut at the Sandown 500 that year.
The following year, he – along with co-driver Jim Richards – finished third in the holy grail motorsport event in Australia and New Zealand, the Bathurst 1000.
In 2000, again in a Garry Rogers Valvoline Cummins Holden, he teamed with Garth Tander to go on and win the race.
Bargwanna stayed with Garry Rogers for five years, before making the switch to Ford in 2003 and driving for Larkham Motorsport until 2008.
In the 2011 V8 Supercars Championship, he drove for Brad Jones Racing in his last season in Australia.
Following Bargwanna’s move to New Zealand V8 racing, he won championships in 2012-2013, 2014-2015 and finished second in the 2017-2018 Touring Car Class 1 season. From 2014 to 2016, while racing in New Zealand, he also held the position of driving standards observer for the Australian Supercars.
The Baw Baw Shire’s Sporting Walk of Fame is located in Civic Park, Warragul and commemorates the achievements of local athletes who have competed and succeeded at the highest levels of their chosen sports.
Bargwanna joins other inductees including Judo champion Michael Keane; AFL greats Gary Ablett Senior and Alan Noonan; boxing legend Lionel Rose; and cycling champion Kathy Watt – among a host of others.
A formal ceremony will be held to celebrate Bargwanna’s induction in the near future, at a time when Covid-19 restrictions allow a larger number of people to attend outdoor gatherings.
Baw Baw Shire Mayor, councillor Danny Goss said – on behalf of the council: “We’re thrilled to welcome another Baw Baw legend, Jason Bargwanna, into the Sporting Walk of Fame. His career achievements in V8 Supercars are to be admired and celebrated. We look forward to celebrating with Jason in person when restrictions are eased, and it is safe to do so.”
The Warragul connection, and a love for racing, is continued today through Bargwanna’s son Ben, who is competing in the Formula Ford Championship.
