LDM splits with manager Barry Hay

Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport has undergone a restructure ahead of Sydney Motorsport Park that has seen the departure of manager Barry Hay.

Hay was informed of his fate late last week, ending a 20-month stint with the squad for the 2005 Supercars championship winning crew chief.

LDM has moved to change up its operations after a largely trying first eight events of the season.

Results have been lean since Nick Percat broke through for the squad’s maiden victory during a chaotic Clipsal 500 in March.

Percat and Heimgartner sit 24th and 25th in points respectively heading to SMP, the lowest of the drivers to have started every event.

Hay missed the most recent Supercars event at Ipswich after initially being hospitalised with pneumonia partway through the Castrol Edge Townsville 400.

He briefly returned to workshop duties last week before being told of Dumbrell’s decision.

Prior to Townsville, Hay had been at the centre of failed negotiations with Gold Coast businessman Travers Beynon’s Freechoice Tobacco that resulted in ongoing legal action.

LDM’s Holdens have run in plain black since the deal fell through, although are expected to sport new liveries at SMP this weekend.

Hay had been recruited by the team from Erebus in the 2014/15 off-season, leading the squad’s expansion to two cars.

A respected crew chief and fabricator, Hay found himself race engineering Heimgartner’s entry through the early part of this season before the recruitment of Campbell Little in June.

Little, who contracts to the squad from his Gold Coast base, is expected to play an increased role in LDM’s operations following Hay’s departure.

A comprehensive review of the team’s string of recent mechanical issues is understood to have taken place during the five-week break between events ahead of SMP.

With details of the split still being finalised, Dumbrell and Hay both declined to comment on the developments when contacted by Speedcafe.com.