The little Lotus will again go up against the more fancied Aston Martins and Lamborghinis
Sutherland Shire resident Scott Bargwanna will tackle Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway this weekend in Round Five of the Shannons Nationals, engaging in a sportscar David versus Goliath battle.
Bargwanna, part of the successful racing family and cousin of Bathurst 1000 winner Jason, will drive a Lotus Elise against significantly more-powerful cars from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche and Aston Martin in the Australian GT Championship; one of seven categories on show during a big weekend of racing.
Sydney-based team Kirrapack Racing’s new Elise is powered by a supercharged, four-cylinder engine, giving Bargwanna about 300hp, just over half the power of an Aston Martin DBR9 or Lamborghini Gallardo.
While the Elise is down on power, it’s also down on weight, tipping the scales at just 750kg, around 600kg lighter than some of its rivals.
“It’s a great little package,” Bargwanna, an experienced racer, enthused.
“We don’t have as much power as the bigger cars, but the Elise makes life difficult for them under brakes and with good mid-corner speed, which is what Lotus is renowned for.
“This is a relatively new car for the team but we’re really looking forward to the weekend and the chance to ruffle some feathers.”
Proving he’ll be a dark horse this weekend, Bargwanna finished second in Round Two of the series in Adelaide, driving a similar Elise.
While Eastern Creek has one of the longest front straights in Australia, the Lotus is likely to be the quickest car through the circuit’s technical infield.
“Adelaide was a great result to end up on the podium, a result like that this weekend would be fantastic,” he said.
“Eastern Creek is a circuit that should be well suited to the Lotus; there are a number of long-radius corners that suit cars which can maintain high corner speeds.
“We’re confident of mixing it with the more-powerful cars.”
Bargwanna is part of a 19-car, multi-million dollar Australian GT Championship field, just one of seven categories putting on a motorsport feast this weekend.
Australia’s fastest race cars, the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship will be present, along with the Kerrick Sport Sedan National Series, Saloon Cars, Commodore Cup, Shannons V8 Touring Cars and the Australian Superkart Championship.
Over 140 competitors will tackle the western Sydney circuit, with a host of locals - like Bargwanna - eyeing strong results.
Among the Sydneysiders are father-and-son pair Peter and Ryan Dane in Saloon Cars and rising stars Chris Alajajian and Mat Sofi in Formula 3.
In a great-value day of entertainment, Sunday tickets are just $20 for a full program of races, including grandstand seating and pit access, with kids 12 and under free.