Newly crowned Dunlop Series winner Garry Jacobson remains in contention to claim one of the remaining Supercars Championship seats as he looks to graduate to the category next year.
The 24-year-old wrapped up a maiden national circuit racing series title at last weekend’s Coates Hire Sydney 500 after fifth place finishes in the final two races.
Now armed with the Dunlop Series crown, Jacobson is weighing up options for 2017 which includes stepping up to the Supercars Championship.
Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport is yet to announce its 2017 plans with Jacobson believed to be among the contenders for a drive.
The team had hoped to sell one of its Racing Entitlements Contracts to the Blanchard family prior to their deal with Rusty French, but is now left with two entries that it is required to fill.
The only other seat to be confirmed is at Garry Rogers Motorsport alongside James Moffat, which is expected to be the new home of Garth Tander.
Labelling his decision for next year as the most important of his career, Jacobson hopes the Dunlop Series crown will help strengthen his bid.
“At the moment I haven’t signed anything,” Jacobson told Speedcafe.com.
“I’m just weighing up the options. I have got several options in both the main game and Dunlop Series.
“I’m really looking forward to making the most important decision of my career.
“No driver is too good for a team and no team is too good for a driver.
“I have enormous respect for all teams in the main game including Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport. I will never cross out an opportunity for the main game.
“There are a lot of people who have gone on to the main game after completing a successful Dunlop Series campaign.
“To win the title should provide good promising moments ahead for me.”
If Jacobson fails in his bid to join the main game next season, the Victorian is a likely candidate for a Dunlop Series return and maiden Pirtek Enduro Cup outing with Prodrive.
“I’ve done all I can,” he said of making it into the enduros.
“I’ve waited for the opportunity for a long time and I will be talking to a lot of people about it if the main game opportunities don’t come to the fore.
“I think I can deliver a lot in terms of consistency throughout a campaign.
“I feel like I have a lot to give by being an endurance driver. We will have to wait and see.”
While three of the last four Dunlop Series winners have progressed to Supercars the following season, Jacobson believes another campaign in the second tier wouldn’t be a disastrous outcome.
“I think the appreciation of the Dunlop Series is a lot higher than it used to be,” he said.
“Now the main game teams are involved I can’t see people seeing it as a setback.
“As long as you are racing in something that is the main thing.”
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