- AUSTRALIA VS BRAZIL -
V8 SUPERCAR STYLE

    - Pics and words, by Chris Dobie

                                                                                                                                 

 

 

 

While millions of Australians will be throwing their support behind the Australian Socceroos to defeat Brazil in their second match of the World Cup, spare a thought for WPS Racing V8 Supercar drivers Max Wilson and Jason Bargwanna.

They may be team-mates on the race circuit but Monday’s encounter will have them as rivals for 90-minutes as their native countries go head-to-head in Germany.

Wilson, who moved to Australia from Brazil in 2002, is a passionate Brazilian sports fan. Melbourne-based Bargwanna wears his heart on his sleeve and is truly Australian.

“For the past few months the guys in the race team have been stirring me up about Brazil losing to Australia, even some of our English-born engineers have got in on the act as they are mad about football,” said Wilson who recently returned to Brazil between rounds in the V8 championship.

“It has been good to be home in Brazil for a couple of weeks, everyone is simply going crazy about the World Cup. Luckily by being over here I won’t be hassled too much if the Aussies beat us, which definitely isn’t out of the question after their performance on Monday against Japan.”

While motor racing has always been the number one sport for both drivers, Wilson grew up playing soccer on the streets of Interlagos whereas Bargwanna played Rugby and Aussie Rules in Sydney.

“We kicked the soccer ball around a bit at Winton to get into the mood of the World Cup but as a soccer player I think I make a good race car driver,” said Bargwanna.

“As a kid, soccer, or football as the rest of the world calls it, wasn’t overly popular and as such rugby and aussie rules was what I played mostly growing up in Sydney’s Sutherland shire.

“Like most Australians over the past 12 months I’ve taken a bit of interest in the World Cup and hopefully the Socceroos can continue to do us proud in Germany. It would be great to have the bragging rights over Max if they could knock off the Brazilians!”

One thing is certain, if the Socceroos can defeat the Brazilians on Monday Bargwanna and the 20-strong crew at WPS Racing will be sure to remind Wilson of the result for many months to come.
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As soccer players both Wilson and Bargwanna agree they make good racing car drivers
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WPS Racing team-mates Max Wilson and Jason Bargwanna may be team mates on the track but they will be rivals when Brazil plays Australia in the World Cup on Monday.

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