COUSINS Ben and Jude Bargwanna will join forces to tackle the S5000 Tasman Series this year.

The pair will link together under the families’ Bargwanna Motorsport banner, while operating with assistance from Garry Rogers Motorsport.

The shift to open wheel racing continues the trend of the Bargwanna cousins competing together, the pair having twice tackled the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour.

They finished ninth outright and second in class in the race this year, racing an Audi TTRS.

Ben Bargwanna is no stranger to S5000 competition, having tackled the 2021 Tasman Series and the Australian Grand Prix S5000 round in April this year – where he qualified a strong seventh amidst the series’ best ever grid.

He will compete with ongoing support from Burson Auto Parts, who back his campaign in the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series.

Jude Bargwanna will make his S5000 debut on the Gold Coast having had his first sample of the cars at The Bend Motorsport Park in the ‘S5000 Open’ test last month.

The Australian Formula Ford Championship frontrunner will also tackle a street circuit for the first time when he lines up at Surfers Paradise.

The S5000 Tasman Series kicks off at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 next week, before concluding at the VALO Adelaide 500 in December.

Jason Bargwanna

“It’s going to be great to see proper high powered open wheelers on the Gold Coast again,” Bargwanna said.

“That track was designed for this kind of race car. I love that track. The Adelaide parklands circuit speaks for itself and I am sure we are just a few of the 200,000 fans that can’t wait to be back there and part of the event.

“We have taken on the Bathurst 6 Hour together and the Tasman Series is the next step. Scott and I are keen to work with the boys at 2 of the greatest tracks and events in the country.

“I am sure they will both have their eyes wide open after their first view laps at both these tracks. They will earn their keep mastering these events, as they continue building, and expanding on their careers.”

Ben Bargwanna

“I’ve had a bit of experience with the S5000 and they’re incredible cars. The Gold Coast is one of those tracks you always look forward to watching every year and you always want to drive there,” Ben Bargwanna said.

“Racing as a family is going to be pretty exciting. We’ve done it a few times before at the Bathurst 6 Hour, so we’re not strangers to sharing a track together, but it’s cool to race some of the fastest cars in Australia at one of the coolest tracks in Australia.

“When you go look at You Tube videos of on board stuff from there you get into all the IndyCar and Champ Car stuff and all sort of different cars that have raced there. It will be pretty cool to see what an S5000 is capable of there.”

Jude Bargwanna

“I drove the S5000 at the bend for GRM at the S5000 open day and I really enjoyed the car and the experience. Garry and Barry reached out and asked if I’d like to come and race at the Gold Coast and Adelaide and of course, I took the opportunity.

“It will be even cooler to do it with Ben, Dad and Jason!” Jude Bargwanna said.

“It’s a surreal experience, was speechless afterwards. I’d driven a Supercar, so something with a V8 and a slick Tyre, but the S5000 is so fast – the way it pushes you back in the seat is incredible.

“Ben gave me a bit of a hand at The Bend but when it comes to crunch time on the Gold Coast I don’t think he’ll be giving me any advice!

“It’s going to be a bit of a jump from what I have been racing, and I’ve never been to a street circuit before, but I can’t wait.”