Dumbrell won with Whincup at Sandown last year. Source: Michael Klein / News Limited
TWELVE years ago, Paul Dumbrell was king of the kids, so to speak.
A then 19-year-old Dumbrell romped to the 2002 V8 development series crown, stepping up to the big leagues with Perkins Motorsport the following year.
But flash forward to 2014 and you will find the 32-year-old Bathurst-winner's name on the entry list for this year's Dunlop Series.
Why? The astute businessman, who by day runs the vast Autobarn automotive group, knows it's his best chance of returning to the top step of the Mount Panorama podium.
He returns to partner V8 champ Jamie Whincup at this year's Enduro Cup. After a couple of crucial errors last year, the Dunlop gig is to make sure he's match fit for Bathurst.
Dumbrell won the 2002 Konica V8 Series. Source: News Limited
"After Gold Coast last year Roland (Dane, Red Bull team boss) and I were talking about what to do this year," Dumbrell said.
"Certainly my preference was to do a couple of other races throughout the year, and obviously the Dunlop Series was an option."
Crucial to the plan was for Dumbrell to compete in the supporting Dunlop race at Bathurst, but to be eligible a driver must do all the preceding rounds.
"So we through 'hey, if we're going to do that we might as well do the whole year!'"
Dumbrell made a couple of crucial errors in last year's Enduro Cup. Source: News Limited
He lines up this weekend for Egglestone Motorsport in a car with fine pedigree: it's one of Craig Lowndes' Bathurst winning Holdens.
Despite the quality equipment, and a resume that includes three V8 Supercars wins to his name, Dumbrell isn't expecting to mop the floor.
"There's some really good talent there," he conceded.
"I understand it's the feeder series and I'm at the other end if my career, but we'll have a real crack to win as many races as we can.
"We're in a good car with a good team, but I reckon it'll be a really hard slog out there this year."
Although his growing business commitments forced him out of the cockpit full-time at the end of 2011, Dumbrell explained that it wasn't hard to fit a full Dunlop Series schedule into his calendar.
"I was already going to be at three of the rounds for the Enduro driver practices, plus Bathurst. I was planning to come to Clipsal as a spectator and I always go to Homebush, so it's only really a couple of rounds I've had to squeeze in.
"And anyway, racing a car is not a bad weekend hobby to have."
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