Paul Dumbrell is contemplating a return to the Dunlop Series as he looks to bolster his preparation for the Pirtek Enduro Cup this season.
Red Bull Racing Australia confirmed late last year that Dumbrell will team with Jamie Whincup in the Sandown, Bathurst and Gold Coast endurance events for a third consecutive year.
The re-signing came despite Dumbrell casting doubt over his ability to continue as a part-timer following the Bathurst 1000, where small mistakes in his final stint proved a major blow to the team’s chances.
Dumbrell stepped away from a 10-year career as a full-time driver at the end of 2011 in order to focus on his role of CEO at the Automotive Brands Group.
Although still enjoying a heavy workload in the position, the 31-year-old admits he is scouting around for opportunities to increase his racing mileage this season.
“We’re looking at what options are around the place at the moment,” he confirmed to Speedcafe.com.
“There hasn’t been a lot of focus put on it just yet but I’m talking to Roland (Dane, Triple Eight team owner) and understanding what the opportunities are in the next couple of weeks.
“If things fit into the schedule, we’ll look at it (doing more racing) because by the enduros it’ll be nearly three years since I retired from full-time driving so anything I do will certainly be beneficial.”
Although stressing that extra mileage is not essential, Dumbrell says he is looking at racing outings in “literally anything”, including the Dunlop Series.
Red Bull and Triple Eight currently enjoy a strong relationship with Dunlop outfit Eggleston Motorsport, which is yet to confirm drivers for two of its three entries.
The team has three ex-Triple Eight chassis, including that campaigned by Casey Stoner last year, and will this year be run at race events by highly respected Triple Eight consultant engineer John Russell.
“We’ll certainly look at it, there’s no doubt about it, but from my point of view I’ve stepped back from full-time racing,” said Dumbrell of the potential for a tilt at a second Dunlop Series title.
“I’d love to race the DVS for just one race at Bathurst to get some more miles around that track, but that’s not how the rules are (as they require the bulk of the season to be completed in order to be eligible for the Bathurst round).”
Dumbrell and Whincup took a win (Sandown), a second (Bathurst), a fourth and a DNF (Gold Coast) from the four endurance races last year.
The results saw the duo second in the inaugural Pirtek Enduro Cup to team-mates Craig Lowndes and Warren Luff and helped Whincup towards a record-equalling fifth V8 Supercars Championship title.
“From my point of view my sole focus is to help Jamie to win the championship,” said Dumbrell of last year’s races.
“Obviously Sandown, Bathurst and the Gold Coast are great races that you want to win but at the end of the day winning the championship is what it’s all about.
“If we finish fourth in every race that I do and Jamie wins the championship it’s a success.”
