Paul Dumbrell
Encyclopedia
Paul Dumbrell is an Australian racing driver who currently drives for Rod Nash Racing
in the V8 Supercar Championship Series. He was educated at Xavier College
in Kew
, Melbourne
and resides in Melbourne
, Australia
.
. During the course, Dumbrell had his first experience in a racing car, a Formula Vauxhall. At age 15 he was the youngest in the class and even though he was the fastest graduate from the school, he was ineligible for the final race, for which drivers had to be 16.
On returning to Australia
he looked to do a couple of races in Formula Ford
but broke his hip when hit by a car while training on his mountain bike. This injury prevented him from racing for 8 weeks and put an end to any chance of running a Formula Ford. At the end of 1998 he entered his first production car
race, the GT Production three-hour at Bathurst
in a Subaru WRX, but his race ended with mechanical failure. For the 1999 season he drove a Formula Holden
in the Australian Drivers' Championship
, and had his first race in the V8 Supercar Championship Series in August 1999 at Symmons Plains, in Tasmania
.
After a full year's experience in a Formula Holden
, Dumbrell had the chance to test a Formula 3000
car with Mark Webber
for Paul Stoddart
's Arrows
Team, driving 20 laps in the car at Donington Park
. When he returned to Australia he took up a permanent driving spot in the Konica V8 Supercar Development Series. 2001 saw Dumbrell consistently at the front, and he won the Series in 2002
.
Paul made his first Bathurst 1000
start at age 16, and was the youngest ever driver to drive a V8 Supercar. He raced a Wynns/Falkuner Racing #96 Holden VS Commodore
with Matthew White, qualifying the car in 33rd position but retiring on lap 15 after he hit the wall at McPhillamy Park.
as his co-driver in the Castrol Perkins Holden VX Commodore
at both the Queensland 500
and Bathurst 1000
. At Bathurst that year, Perkins and Dumbrell finished a surprise fifth position overall. That fifth placing helped Dumbrell secure a 2-year deal with the Castrol Perkins Motorsport Team for 2003 and 2004.
In 2005, Dumbrell achieved his best-ever round V8 Supercar Championship Series result at Symmons Plains, Tasmania
- the venue of his first ever V8 Supercar
start - ending the round in fifth place. 2005 also saw his best ever Championship placing, finishing in 20th, after placing 29th in 2003 and 24th in 2004.
2006 saw Paul driving the number 11 Holden VZ Commodore to 12th place, his best ever V8 Supercar Championship Series placing. He finished 5th at Bathurst and was within reach of a podium finish until slowed by mechanical problems.
. He had a poor season due to the unreliability of the Super Cheap/PWR cars, and the only highlight was a 6th placing with Paul Weel at the Sandown 500.
. It was a season in which good results were hard to come by.
team which replaced the defunct HSV Dealer Team, driving an Autobarn sponsored Holden VE Commodore.
to drive their No. 55, "Bottle-o" sponsored, Ford Performance Racing
prepared Ford FG Falcon
in a deal encompassing 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasons. This marked his first experience of racing a Ford, having competed in Holdens throughout his V8 Supercar career.
Dumbrell recorded his first V8 Supercar Championship podium finish at the 2010 Falken Tasmania Challenge and followed this up with his first Championship race win and first Championship pole position at the next event, the 2010 Norton 360 Sandown Challenge. On 8 August 2011, Dumbrell announced he will retire from full time driving at the end of the 2011 season.
Rod Nash Racing
Rod Nash Racing is a V8 Supercar racing entity, owned by Rod Nash. Nash continues to own a V8 Supercar Racing Entitlement Contract and his #55 runs on the flanks of the Ford Performance Racing Ford FG Falcon....
in the V8 Supercar Championship Series. He was educated at Xavier College
Xavier College
Xavier College is a Roman Catholic, day and boarding school predominantly for boys, with its main campus located in Kew, an eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
in Kew
Kew
Kew is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in South West London. Kew is best known for being the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens, now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace...
, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and resides in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Racing history
Son of former racing driver Garry Dumbrell, Paul Dumbrell started racing in karts in 1996 and by the end of 1997 Dumbrell was looking to further his racing. He competed in the Australian Sprint Kart National Championships in April 1998 and then attended the Jim Russell International School of Racing in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. During the course, Dumbrell had his first experience in a racing car, a Formula Vauxhall. At age 15 he was the youngest in the class and even though he was the fastest graduate from the school, he was ineligible for the final race, for which drivers had to be 16.
On returning to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
he looked to do a couple of races in Formula Ford
Formula Ford
Formula Ford is a single seater, open wheel class in motorsport which exists in some form in many countries around the world. It is an entry-level series to motor racing....
but broke his hip when hit by a car while training on his mountain bike. This injury prevented him from racing for 8 weeks and put an end to any chance of running a Formula Ford. At the end of 1998 he entered his first production car
Production car racing
Production car racing , Showroom stock racing Street Stock, Pure Stock, or U-Car racing includes all categories of auto racing where unmodified cars race each other, outright and also in classes. All cars usually have a protective roll cage and run race tires...
race, the GT Production three-hour at Bathurst
Mount Panorama Circuit
Mount Panorama Circuit is a motor racing track located in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. It is the home of the Bathurst 12 Hour motor race, held each February, and the Bathurst 1000 motor race, held each October...
in a Subaru WRX, but his race ended with mechanical failure. For the 1999 season he drove a Formula Holden
Formula Holden
Formula Holden was an Australian open wheel racing category.-History:Known during its development as Formula Australia, it was initially for chassis constructed from aluminium only, running a 3.8 litre Buick V6 engine as it was then utilised in the new versions of the Holden Commodore...
in the Australian Drivers' Championship
Australian Drivers' Championship
The Australian Drivers' Championship is a motor racing championship which has been contested annually since 1957 by drivers of cars complying with Australia's premier open-wheeler racing category as determined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Since 2005 this category has been Formula...
, and had his first race in the V8 Supercar Championship Series in August 1999 at Symmons Plains, in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
.
After a full year's experience in a Formula Holden
Formula Holden
Formula Holden was an Australian open wheel racing category.-History:Known during its development as Formula Australia, it was initially for chassis constructed from aluminium only, running a 3.8 litre Buick V6 engine as it was then utilised in the new versions of the Holden Commodore...
, Dumbrell had the chance to test a Formula 3000
Formula 3000
The Formula 3000 International Championship was a motor racing series created by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile in 1985 to become the final preparatory step for drivers hoping to enter the Formula One championship...
car with Mark Webber
Mark Webber
Mark Alan Webber is an Australian Formula One driver.After some racing success in Australia, Webber moved to the United Kingdom in 1995 to further his motorsport career...
for Paul Stoddart
Paul Stoddart
Paul Stoddart, born 26 May 1955, is an Australian millionaire airline magnate, and former owner of the Minardi Formula One racing team. He later took the Minardi brand into the Champ Car World Series after his purchase of a portion of CTE-HVM Racing which he renamed Minardi Team USA for 2007.-Early...
's Arrows
Arrows
Arrows Grand Prix International was a British Formula One team active from to . For a period of time, it was also known as Footwork.-Origins :...
Team, driving 20 laps in the car at Donington Park
Donington Park
Donington Park is a motorsport circuit near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England.Originally part of the Donington Hall estate, it was created as a racing circuit during the pre-war period when the German Silver Arrows were battling for the European Championship...
. When he returned to Australia he took up a permanent driving spot in the Konica V8 Supercar Development Series. 2001 saw Dumbrell consistently at the front, and he won the Series in 2002
2002 Konica V8 Supercar Series
The 2002 Konica V8 Supercar Series was an Australian touring car series held for V8 Supercars. It was the third series held for second tier V8 Supercar teams. The season began on 31 March 2002 at Wakefield Park and finished on 4 August at Mallala Motor Sport Park...
.
Paul made his first Bathurst 1000
Bathurst 1000
The Bathurst 1000 is a touring car race held annually at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia...
start at age 16, and was the youngest ever driver to drive a V8 Supercar. He raced a Wynns/Falkuner Racing #96 Holden VS Commodore
Holden VS Commodore
The Holden VS Commodore, released in 1995, was the ninth model of the Holden Commodore, a large car built by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors. The VS Commodore served as a mechanical update of the second generation architecture, destined to assist sales before the all-new VT model...
with Matthew White, qualifying the car in 33rd position but retiring on lap 15 after he hit the wall at McPhillamy Park.
Castrol Perkins Motorsport
2002 saw Dumbrell picked up by Castrol Perkins Racing's Team Owner Larry PerkinsLarry Perkins
Larry Clifton Perkins is a former racing driver and V8 Supercar team owner from Australia.-Career:...
as his co-driver in the Castrol Perkins Holden VX Commodore
Holden VX Commodore
The Holden VX Commodore, Berlina and Calais range of full-size cars were the eleventh instalment of Holden Commodore, a model manufactured by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors...
at both the Queensland 500
Queensland 500
The Queensland 500 was originally a V8 Supercar endurance touring car race held from 1999 to 2002. The race was held at Queensland Raceway near Ipswich. It replaced the Sandown 500 when it relinquished its role as the two-driver warm up event for the Bathurst 1000...
and Bathurst 1000
Bathurst 1000
The Bathurst 1000 is a touring car race held annually at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia...
. At Bathurst that year, Perkins and Dumbrell finished a surprise fifth position overall. That fifth placing helped Dumbrell secure a 2-year deal with the Castrol Perkins Motorsport Team for 2003 and 2004.
In 2005, Dumbrell achieved his best-ever round V8 Supercar Championship Series result at Symmons Plains, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
- the venue of his first ever V8 Supercar
V8 Supercar
V8 Supercars is a touring car racing category based in Australia and run as an International Series under Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile regulations...
start - ending the round in fifth place. 2005 also saw his best ever Championship placing, finishing in 20th, after placing 29th in 2003 and 24th in 2004.
2006 saw Paul driving the number 11 Holden VZ Commodore to 12th place, his best ever V8 Supercar Championship Series placing. He finished 5th at Bathurst and was within reach of a podium finish until slowed by mechanical problems.
Supercheap Auto Racing
For the 2007 season, Dumbrell moved from Jack Daniels Racing to Super Cheap Auto Racing, replacing Greg MurphyGreg Murphy
Greg Murphy is a racing driver, best known as a four-time winner of the Bathurst 1000. Greg Murphy joined Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond presenting Top Gear, when it had its first international Live show at ASB Showgrounds in Auckland from February 12 - 15th 2009, and again when the show...
. He had a poor season due to the unreliability of the Super Cheap/PWR cars, and the only highlight was a 6th placing with Paul Weel at the Sandown 500.
HSV Dealer Team
In 2008, Dumbrell joined the HSV Dealer Team to drive the #16 Autobarn Holden Commodore, as teammate to 2006 V8 Supercar Champion, Rick KellyRick Kelly
Rick Kelly is a current V8 Supercar racing driver, currently living in Melbourne, Victoria. He is the younger brother of former Bathurst 1000 champion, Todd Kelly...
. It was a season in which good results were hard to come by.
Walkinshaw Racing
In 2009 Dumbrell stayed under the Walkinshaw umbrella with the newly formed for Walkinshaw RacingWalkinshaw Racing
Walkinshaw Racing, known commercially as Bundaberg Racing Team, is one of two Australian motor racing teams operated by British owned Walkinshaw Performance...
team which replaced the defunct HSV Dealer Team, driving an Autobarn sponsored Holden VE Commodore.
Rod Nash Racing
For the 2010 V8 Supercar season, Dumbrell signed with Rod Nash RacingRod Nash Racing
Rod Nash Racing is a V8 Supercar racing entity, owned by Rod Nash. Nash continues to own a V8 Supercar Racing Entitlement Contract and his #55 runs on the flanks of the Ford Performance Racing Ford FG Falcon....
to drive their No. 55, "Bottle-o" sponsored, Ford Performance Racing
Ford Performance Racing
Ford Performance Racing is a British-owned Australian-based motor racing team that contests the Australian International V8 Supercars Championship...
prepared Ford FG Falcon
Ford FG Falcon
The Ford FG Falcon is a full-size car produced by the Ford Motor Company of Australia since 2008. The FG series is the current model of the Ford Falcon and is the seventh generation of the car...
in a deal encompassing 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasons. This marked his first experience of racing a Ford, having competed in Holdens throughout his V8 Supercar career.
Dumbrell recorded his first V8 Supercar Championship podium finish at the 2010 Falken Tasmania Challenge and followed this up with his first Championship race win and first Championship pole position at the next event, the 2010 Norton 360 Sandown Challenge. On 8 August 2011, Dumbrell announced he will retire from full time driving at the end of the 2011 season.
Career result
| Season | Series | Position | Car | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 1999 Australian Drivers' Championship The 1999 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned motor racing title open to drivers of Formula Holden racing cars. The winner of the championship, which was the 43rd Australian Drivers' Championship, was awarded the 1999 CAMS Gold Star... |
Australian Drivers' Championship Australian Drivers' Championship The Australian Drivers' Championship is a motor racing championship which has been contested annually since 1957 by drivers of cars complying with Australia's premier open-wheeler racing category as determined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Since 2005 this category has been Formula... |
6th | Reynard Reynard Motorsport Reynard Motorsport was at one time the world's largest racing car manufacturer. Initially based at Bicester and latterly at Reynard Park, Brackley, England the company built successful cars in Formula Ford 1600, Formula Ford 2000, Formula Vauxhall Lotus, Formula Three, Formula 3000 and Indy... 94D Holden |
Badia Court |
| 2000 2000 Australian Drivers' Championship The 2000 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of cars conforming to Formula Holden regulations. The title was contested over an 8 round, 16 race series with the winner awarded the 2000 CAMS Gold Star... |
Australian Drivers' Championship Australian Drivers' Championship The Australian Drivers' Championship is a motor racing championship which has been contested annually since 1957 by drivers of cars complying with Australia's premier open-wheeler racing category as determined by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. Since 2005 this category has been Formula... |
6th | Reynard 93D Holden | K Mart Racing |
| 2001 2001 Konica V8 Supercar Series The 2001 Konica V8 Supercar Series was an Australian touring car series held for V8 Supercars. It was the second series held for second tier V8 Supercar teams. The season began on 25 February 2001 at Wakefield Park and finished on 11 August at Mallala Motor Sport Park... |
Konica V8Supercar Series Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series The Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series is an Australian touring car competition, specifically the second tier series for V8 Supercar competitors. Competing vehicles are older than those utilised in the V8 Supercar Championship series and are run by smaller teams with lower budgets... |
2nd | Holden VT Commodore Holden VT Commodore The Holden VT Commodore, Berlina, and Calais are the tenth iteration of the Holden Commodore, a full-size car built by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors... |
Gibson Motor Sport Gibson Motor Sport Gibson Motor Sport was an Australian motor racing team. Originally established by Howard Marsden as the in-house factory Nissan motorsport operation, the team later passed into the ownership of Fred Gibson., who had won the 1967 Bathurst 500 as a driver, sharing with Harry Firth. In 1993 the team... |
| 2001 | Shell Championship Series V8 Supercar V8 Supercars is a touring car racing category based in Australia and run as an International Series under Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile regulations... |
59th | Holden VX Commodore Holden VX Commodore The Holden VX Commodore, Berlina and Calais range of full-size cars were the eleventh instalment of Holden Commodore, a model manufactured by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors... |
Garry Rogers Motorsport Garry Rogers Motorsport Garry Rogers Motorsport is an Australian motor racing team presently competing in V8 Supercar.-The early years:Garry Rogers Motorsport has its origins in Garry Rogers' own exploits in Sports Sedans during the late 1960s and the 1970s. In the mid-1970s Rogers got more serious, running a BDA Escort... |
| 2002 2002 Konica V8 Supercar Series The 2002 Konica V8 Supercar Series was an Australian touring car series held for V8 Supercars. It was the third series held for second tier V8 Supercar teams. The season began on 31 March 2002 at Wakefield Park and finished on 4 August at Mallala Motor Sport Park... |
Konica V8Supercar Series | 1st | Holden VX Commodore | International Race Cars Australia |
| 2002 | V8Supercar Championship Series | 37th | Holden VX Commodore | Castrol Perkins Motorsport |
| 2003 2003 V8 Supercar Championship Series The 2003 V8 Supercar Championship Series was a motor racing series for V8 Supercars. The series, which was the eighth V8 Supercar Championship Series, began on 22 March 2003 in Adelaide and ended on 30 November at Eastern Creek Raceway after 13 rounds... |
V8Supercar Championship Series | 29th | Holden VX Commodore | Castrol Perkins Motorsport |
| 2004 2004 V8 Supercar Championship Series The 2004 V8 Supercar Championship Series featured the sixth running of the V8 Supercar Championship Series. It began on 21 March 2004 in Adelaide and ended on 5 December at Eastern Creek Raceway after 13 rounds... |
V8Supercar Championship Series | 24th | Holden VX Commodore Holden VY Commodore |
Castrol Perkins Motorsport |
| 2005 2005 V8 Supercar Championship Series The 2005 V8 Supercar season was the seventh running of the V8 Supercar Championship Series. It began on 18 March 2005 in Adelaide and ended on 27 November at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit after 13 rounds.-Teams and drivers:... |
V8Supercar Championship Series | 20th | Holden VY Commodore | Castrol Perkins Motorsport |
| 2006 2006 V8 Supercar Championship Series The 2006 V8 Supercar season was the 8th running of the V8 Supercar Championship Series. It began on 25 March 2006 in Adelaide and ended on 10 December at Phillip Island after 13 rounds.-Race Calendar:... |
V8Supercar Championship Series | 12th | Holden VZ Commodore | Jack Daniel's Racing |
| 2007 2007 V8 Supercar Championship Series The 2007 V8 Supercar season featured the ninth V8 Supercar Championship Series which began on 1 March and finished on 2 December. This championship consisted of 14 rounds covering all states and the Northern Territory of Australia as well as rounds in New Zealand and Bahrain... |
V8Supercar Championship Series | 23rd | Holden VE Commodore | Paul Weel Racing |
| 2008 | V8Supercar Championship Series | 21st | Holden VE Commodore | HSV Dealer Team |
| 2009 2009 V8 Supercar Championship Series The 2009 V8 Supercar Championship Series was the eleventh V8 Supercar Championship Series and the thirteenth series in which V8 Supercars have contested the premier Australian touring car title... |
V8Supercar Championship Series | 15th | Holden VE Commodore | Walkinshaw Racing Walkinshaw Racing Walkinshaw Racing, known commercially as Bundaberg Racing Team, is one of two Australian motor racing teams operated by British owned Walkinshaw Performance... |
| 2010 2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series The 2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series was an FIA sanctioned international motor racing series for V8 Supercars. It was the twelfth V8 Supercar Championship Series and the fourteenth series in which V8 Supercars have contested the premier Australian touring car title... |
V8Supercar Championship Series | 9th | Ford FG Falcon Ford FG Falcon The Ford FG Falcon is a full-size car produced by the Ford Motor Company of Australia since 2008. The FG series is the current model of the Ford Falcon and is the seventh generation of the car... |
Rod Nash Racing Rod Nash Racing Rod Nash Racing is a V8 Supercar racing entity, owned by Rod Nash. Nash continues to own a V8 Supercar Racing Entitlement Contract and his #55 runs on the flanks of the Ford Performance Racing Ford FG Falcon.... |