Engine dramas, followed by a major crash has derailed Jason Bargwanna’s Bathurst 1000 campaign.
The #14 Jana Living Racing driver crashed on the approach to The Dipper at the end of today’s qualifying session.
The incident damaged the front of his Commodore VE, leaving the Brad Jones Racing crew with a lot of evening work ahead of tomorrow’s final practice session and Sunday’s ‘Great Race.’
Bargwanna, who will team with Shane Price for the 161-lap event, will start the race from 21st.
Bargwanna said that the incident was frustrating, given that his laps were limited after earlier engine troubles.
“It’s obviously frustrating because the first real laps I’ve done were in qualifying,” Bargwanna told Speedcafe.com.
“We missed that session yesterday afternoon, so Shane did most of yesterday. We had the engine change and this morning so I hadn’t done any practice. I was trying to get my eye in and push as hard as i could with the car.
“We made a couple changes and its actually really getting better, heading for probably an 2m08.2, one second up on our 9.1.
“I struggled into the first couple runs into The Dipper to get the car to turn down the hill. The change we made helped it, and it actually turned and it just kissed the fence on the right and that was the end of that. Once you make a mistake there there is just no room for error.”
Bargwanna said that the hit was a big one.
“Yeah, it was pretty hard,” he said.
“Any hit on the concrete around this place is a hard hit.
“It’s not unfixable, its just disappointing, so we haven’t had a very good run this week at all.”
CLICK HERE for a full report from today’s qualifying session.
