Motorsport: Aussie eyes up our V8 crown

Jason Bargwanna has entered the NZ V8 series. File Photo / Herald on Sunday

Former Bathurst winner Jason Bargwanna is having a tilt at the New Zealand V8s series - aiming to become the first Australian to take the title.

Our own version of the Australian V8 Supercar series, the BNT NZV8s championship roars into action at Pukekohe this weekend in the opening gambit of the six-round series. In recent years a number of Kiwi drivers have made the move across the Tasman, and with some success, to compete in the Supercar series.

On occasions the odd Australian driver has ventured on this side of the ditch, but not with much success.

"It's a great category and a strong category and very professional," Bargwanna says. "You've got some good operators in terms of drivers and teams and that's what draws me to want and come and have a play and see how I go. To be honest though, I'm here to win races."

As a former Bathurst winner and stalwart of the Australian V8 series, Bargwanna has the pedigree to take it to the Kiwis. However, he'll have his work cut out. Defending champion Craig Baird has won every championship he's contested in New Zealand and wants to prove last year's V8 title wasn't a one-off. Breathing down his neck are former two-time championship winners John McIntyre, Kayne Scott and Andy Booth.

"If you think you're just going to come over here and just drive away and win races without putting some serious effort into it you've probably got your head up you know where," Bargwanna says.

He won the 2000 Bathurst 1000 race alongside Garth Tander and has four race wins to his name.

The sticking point for Bargwanna may be the type of car he's driving. The NZ V8s may look and sound a lot like the Aussie counterpart, but that's about where the similarity ends.

"I've gone from about 650 horsepower to about 430 and the grip and down-force is a lot less," Bargwanna says.

He did well enough in his first outing, however, qualifying 11th for today's races.