Coming directly after racing to the Top Rookie honours in his debut international TCR races held at Portimao Raceway in Portugal just two weeks ago, Bargwanna and his Burson Auto Parts TCR Australia team got things off to a strong start by qualifying 5th at the fast and spectacular Victorian seaside circuit.

Problems discovered after qualifying required an engine change and with that Bargwanna was handed a five place starting grid penalty, relegating the Burson Auto Parts racer to 10th on the competitive TCR grid for Saturday’s first race.

According to the Bargwanna, the penalty made things harder but with a great car under him it wasn’t long before the situation was rectified.

“I made a wicked start to the first race and went from 10th to 4th before turn one! With some epic race battles I was able to come home in 5th to grab some good points and return to where I qualified.

“Race 2 was in a reverse grid format, so I started 5th once again. I got a great start and made my way up to 4th, an early pass around the outside on the first lap promoted me to 3rd. I chased down the leaders and crossed the finish line 3rd for my first TCR podium result of the year.

“Race 3 was the most intense of them all, our GRM team had worked hard to have four fast Peugeots by this stage. After another good start I was 3rd on the first lap. Some really intense battles led to a great race including some immense pressure from my teammate Jordan Cox behind me, but after a very close and fair battle I came home 3rd for another podium,” Bargwanna said.

After a long delay from the opening 2023 TCR Australia Championship round held at Tasmania’s Symmons Plains Raceway back in February, it is a relatively short wait to Round 3 to be held at Victoria’s Winton Motor Raceway from June 9 to 11. The series will visit Ipswich, Melbourne, Sydney and Bathurst through to November.

To find out more about the championship visit TCR Australia online.