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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