2014 V8 Supercars

V8X wrote:Ingall confirms move to Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport

Veteran Russell Ingall has announced he will race on as a full-time driver in V8 Supercars with Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport in 2014.

After declaring 2013 would be his last full-time season, the soon-to-be 50-year-old has linked up with the fledgling Holden team, his fifth different team in V8 Supercars following spells at Perkins Engineering, Stone Brothers Racing, Paul Morris Motorsport and Walkinshaw Racing, for what will be his 19th consecutive season.

Ingall will campaign the sole #23 Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport Commodore with backing from Phil Munday's Repair Management and Holden, with the team scaling back to one entry after handing back its second license to V8 Supercars.

"Plenty of people will be asking why would I come to a small team that has been going through some growing pains," Ingall says.

"But I see it as a challenge to help build the team, move it forward and keep it on the grid. There are plenty of hero drivers out there that would never 'lower' themselves to drive for a small team but I see it as an opportunity to be involved in something from the ground floor.

"I wasn't comfortable last year with how things were presented by some parties about my so-called retirement. I always maintained that if there was a suitable full-time opportunity for this season that I would take it.

"I haven't changed my mind and made a 'comeback'. I never left the sport or intended to leave the sport. There were some good offers to join some well-credentialed teams for the endurance races, but a full- time opportunity was always my main focus.

"At the end of the day, my love for the sport and racing cars is undiminished. I love the racing community, it's given me a lot and I want to stay involved with it.
"I think the man on the street will understand my situation. Anyone that loves their job or the industry they work in doesn't want to get pushed out of it before they're ready."

Ingall's signing, coupled with off-season changes to his team, excites team boss Lucas Dumbrell.

"Holden has been instrumental in getting Russell on board and he brings a lot to our team with nearly 20 years of full-time experience at the top level of V8 Supercar racing," Dumbrell says.

"He's far from being a spent force in the sport. He brings an eye for detail that our team needs that comes from driving for some of the top teams in pit lane.

"We have a revitalised team and approach this year. While we are moving back to a single car program we have the intent and desire to return to a two-car program in the future."

Simon McNamara, GM Holden Ltd Motorsport and Sponsorship Manager, says the addition of the most experienced V8 Supercar driver in history was the first step in LDM's redevelopment.
"It's also an opportunity for Russell to give back to the sport that has given him so much and to help this team grow in all areas," McNamara says.

"Russell has been a great ambassador for Holden for the lion's share of his time in V8 Supercars. We're very happy to see him back on the grid in a Commodore in 2014.

"Importantly, it's also a way of ensuring the team doesn't fall by the wayside like others have during the recent off-season period.
"Lucas is a young, ambitious guy and we'd like to see this team succeed this season and move forward on the grid. He's been working very hard and we support him in this quest to develop his team."

Repair Management Australia's Phil Munday says the opportunity to become a naming rights sponsor of Ingall and LDM fitted the business perfectly for its short-term plans.

"I've been involved in motorsport for many years and this is an ideal platform for us to expand our brand awareness as we go nationwide," he explains.

"It's a launch pad for our national campaign to expand our multi-shop operator group by acquiring businesses interstate as either joint venture interests or company-owned facilities, and providing national service to our client base and work providers.

"Being in the automotive repair business for over 35 years we've been a long-time sponsor of community clubs and events. A national sport like V8 Supercars, which visits every state of Australia, is hard to beat in the sporting marketplace.

"Partnering with Russell and LDM not only gives us national awareness, but the opportunity to participate nationally, which is why we've got involved at this level."

Ingall's first drive of the #23 Repair Management Australia Commodore will come at the V8 Supercars test day at Sydney Motorsport Park on Saturday February 15.

NoRecoil wrote:2014 - the year of Blue on Commodores

Perhaps its in preparation for when Frosty and FPR win the title this year

JamieWhincup#1 wrote:

NoRecoil wrote:2014 - the year of Blue on Commodores

Perhaps its in preparation for when Frosty and FPR win the title this year

Ha, Nice joke   It's a shame Chaz won't get a fair shot at Frosty Performance Racing  

Dektra wrote:I'm currently standing next to the 2014 JDR Altima. It's looking gooooooood

NoRecoil wrote:

Dektra wrote:I'm currently standing next to the 2014 JDR Altima. It's looking gooooooood

Pic's or ban

sempeR wrote:Stacking is more efficient every time. I'd rather see Lowndes stacked and lose 15 positions in pit lane before I see him stay out, pit as scheduled 2 laps later and lose 28 spots with the field at full pace. Fact is if Lowndes was in front of whincup come time to pit, whincup would be the one getting stacked. Old Luffy never helped Lowndes out a whole lot either, with dumbrell easily being the faster co-driver.

Whincup slamming it down the inside with skaife saying what a pass is called asserting ones authority. Do it often enough and others will know not to frigg with you.Whincup has done it well, as have many past champions.

And a blue Commodore won the championship last year?

Dektra wrote:It's pearl yellow, even though you can't tell in the pictures. It also has little Nortonhornets in the black stripes on the side of the car.