S'pose you've all seen the news - Dumby in a FPR Ford. Do these people not watch the races? [bgn]
ya can have him, goodluck with that one.... lol
SCOOP: Dumbrell confirms third FPR car
Thursday 12/11/2009 16:29
Author: Allan Edwards | Source: BigPond Sport - copyright
Dumbrell is set to join FPR
Paul Dumbrell will drive the Bottle-O Falcon in the 2010 V8 Supercars Championship.
Dumbrell and team owner Rod Nash have confirmed to
BigPond Sport that the 27-year-old will switch from Walkinshaw Racing to the car which will become the third Falcon prepared and ran by Ford Performance Racing (FPR).
Earlier today Walkinshaw Racing released a statement announcing Dumbrell will leave the team he has spent the past two seasons with at the end of this year.
Dumbrell then ended weeks of speculation when he told BigPond Sport that he will drive the Bottle-O Falcon for season 2010 and beyond.
?It?s a great opportunity for me personally,? Dumbrell said.
?Where I have been for the past two years and obviously next year is in the premier race teams in the country.?
Dumbrell already has a relationship with Nash, having shared the driving duties with him at Bathurst in 2000.
?I started my career a lot of years ago with Rod Nash at Bathurst driving together and I?m very happy to end my career with Rod as well, and with FPR,? Dumbrell said.
He indicated that he plans to be with FPR for the long haul, stating that he doesn?t really want to move teams again.
The 2002 development series champion described the decision to move from Walkinshaw Racing to Bottle-O Racing as ?definitely the toughest decision of my motorsport career?.
However, he said the speed of the FPR Falcons driven by Mark ?Frosty? Winterbottom and Steven Richards over the last few years had impressed him and he knew this was too good an opportunity to turn down.
?Frosty and Richo were very quick last year. Mark was probably the class of the field for most of the year in terms of raw speed,? Dumbrell said.
He indicated that he can?t wait for the 2010 season to roll around.
?It is something new; I have never driven a Ford before in my career? I am very anxious; I am like a kid in a candy store waiting to get my hands on a car,? he said.
Dumbrell said he would be aiming for race wins in 2010.
?Everyone?s dream is a championship; they are very hard to win. I have won one in the development series and that was very difficult enough. Before we run we have to walk; I have to get myself bedded down in the team.
?I have already met all of the guys, but I need to get my head around how that team works, it is completely different to my previous organisation.?
However, he said there will be no time for a long introduction period.
?We have to make sure that we hit the ground running because with a double-header overseas (Abu Dhabi and Bahrain) it?s critical to make sure that you can at least leave there making sure that you are still in contention for the championship,? Dumbrell said.
Nash said he was rapt to secure Dumbrell for 2010 and beyond, though he indicated that there were some anxious moments as he waited for Dumbrell to make his final decision.
?I got a number of approaches from different drivers, but knew I wanted Paul,? he said.
?He?s already driving for a reasonably high-profile team but with the FPR deal being confirmed, it gave me rock-solid backing to offer him something great.
?He still left me hanging for a while.?
Nash indicated that his knowledge of Dumbrell?s character was the main reason he was so keen to secure the current Autobarn Racing driver.
?I?ve watched him further his career and gain experience so I?ve got a fair idea of his nature; he?s a thinking driver and likes to have all the ducks in a row,? he said.
?With an operation like FPR, bringing in a professional driver should see us be reasonably quick straight away.?
It is understood that the Bottle-O Falcon will have no sponsorship from Dumbrell?s existing backer, Autobarn.
