Bathurst: WPS/WOW Racing preview

WPS/WOW RACING PAIRS BARGWANNA AND WILSON FOR ALL-OUT BATHURST ASSAULT

WPS/WOW Racing will pair Jason Bargwanna and Max Wilson together in the #8 WOW Racing Falcon for an all-out assault on this year's Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama, Bathurst on October 4-7.

The Gold Coast-based team will pair its two regular drivers together for the 1000-kilometre classic, using the car that Wilson and Michael Caruso debuted at the Sandown 500 on September 14-16.

Caruso and fellow WPS/WOW Racing endurance driver Grant Denyer will now join forces to pilot the #10 WPS Racing Falcon at Bathurst in what is the second Bathurst start for both drivers.

Bargwanna, who lives with his family just outside of Melbourne, will make a quick trip up to the Gold Coast today and join Wilson for a seat fitting and driver change familiarisation to ensure that all is in readiness for the year's biggest race on October 4-7.

Bargwanna and Wilson both turned in outstanding drives and showed strong car speed in the first endurance event of the season at Sandown, where the two were paired separately in their respective cars. Bargwanna drove with Denyer in the #10 WPS Racing Falcon while Wilson and Caruso shared duties in the team's all-new #8 WOW Racing Falcon.

Wilson and Bargwanna will now share the team's new car for Bathurst, making them one of the combinations to watch at the most prestigious event of the season.

Bargwanna is a former Bathurst winner, claiming victory with former team-mate Garth Tander in 2000. Wilson's best finish at Mount Panorama is 13th in 2003 when paired with David Brabham.

Both cars from WPS/WOW Racing finished in the top 15 at last year's Bathurst event, with Bargwanna scoring 10th with Craig Baird and Wilson 14th with David Besnard.

With both regular drivers paired together and the new WOW Falcon now with one impressive race performance under its belt, the team is eager to get to 'The Mountain' and strive for the team's best Bathurst result.

WPS/WOW Racing, now in its fourth season in the V8 Supercar Championship Series, has a strong record at Bathurst and has only failed to finish a car in the gruelling endurance race on one occasion.

WPS/WOW Racing's best Bathurst result is eighth place in 2005 with David Besnard and Craig Baird, a result that came from the team's two regular drivers being paired together, something now reflected in this year's combinations.

Denyer and Caruso will gain extra track time over the Bathurst weekend around the 6.213-kilometre circuit, with both drivers also racing in Round 6 of the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series at Mount Panorama.

The two drivers, who are also team-mates in the 'feeder' Fujitsu Series, performed exceptionally well at Sandown and agree that the pairing the team's full-time drivers in the lead entry gives the squad it's best chance for a podium.

WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ...

Jason Bargwanna -- #8 WOW Racing Falcon

"This is certainly our best chance at an exceptional result," said Bargwanna.

"Grant and Michael both did a great job at Sandown, but there is no substitute for experience and Max and I are full-time drivers and that makes a hell of a lot of difference, especially at a tough place like Bathurst.

"To have the best chance at Bathurst this year you have to put all your eggs in one basket and put your best put forward.

"The team has decided that this is our time and we are now going all out. I have had three podiums at Bathurst and there is no reason why I can't get number four this year.

"I strongly believe Max and I and the entire team is capable of doing the job and giving it a good shot at Bathurst."

Max Wilson -- #8 WOW Racing Falcon

"I'm really looking forward to Bathurst and introducing Bargs to the new WOW car," said Wilson.

"This is the first Bargs and I have driven together in an enduro and I think we will make a good combination.

"The team continues to move forward and gather momentum and I firmly believe we have a good shot at it at Bathurst this year.

"Bargs is coming back up today (Friday) to do a seat fitting for my car, we will sort out the seat position and driver change stuff, then it is full steam ahead for Bathurst.

"I can't wait and everyone in the workshop is pretty excited."

Grant Denyer -- #10 WPS Racing Falcon

"I can't wait to get my second crack at Bathurst," said Denyer.

"For any motorsport fan it is the most special weekend of the year. To be racing in the race I watched growing up as a kid is a dream come true.

"Racing with Michael is going to be a blast. We are team-mates in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series so we are used to working with each other on set-up and getting the best out of a car.

"It's just that this time it is the same car we are talking about.

"I'm really enjoying being a part of WPS/WOW Racing, the number 10 car was a jet at Sandown and the crew gave us great stops all day, so we have a lot to look forward to.

"I see no reason why we cannot match the ninth place I earned on debut last year. One thing is for sure, we will give it everything we've got."

Michael Caruso -- #10 WPS Racing Falcon

"Getting a full Bathurst weekend under my belt is going to be a great experience and something that I have been looking forward to for quite a while," said Caruso.

"The team has had a change of combinations but we still enter Bathurst with strong cars and drivers and importantly, we have a great team around us pushing us along.

"The extra miles that Grant and I will get over the weekend in the Fujitsu Series will help us a lot. We both team-mates in the Fujitsu Series and have always worked well together and in the #10 WPS Racing Falcon things will be no different.

"Being smart and consistent is the key to Bathurst and if Grant and I can stick to our guns and bring the car home in a strong position it will be a great result."

Craig Gore -- WPS/WOW Racing Team Owner

"Max and Bargs are genuine contenders, which is why we have paired them together for a full-on effort for this most prestigious of races," said Gore.

"Bargs knows what it takes to win at Mount Panorama. He put in a great effort and Sandown with a really gutsy double stint and I know he is pumped for Bathurst.

"The pace Max showed at Sandown in the new WOW car was very encouraging and provided us with something to build on for Bathurst.

"Grant and Michael still have a big part to play and will make a solid combination. So much can happen in 1000 kilometres at Bathurst and they are both smart enough to realise that if they keep their heads and race to a plan they could quite easily grab a top 10.

"At Sandown we showed positive signs and good car speed but it did not show in our results. Unfortunately mechanical problems ended the race for both cars so we have put in work to make sure that does not happen at Bathurst.

"Bathurst is a massive event and one where every team wants to succeed. Pairing Max and Bargs together in the WOW car gives us our best chance yet at this very special race in our fourth attempt.

"Every one in our team is pretty excited about this race, especially me. I love the atmosphere and the event and I can't wait to get there."

-credit: wpsracing.net.au