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The Bottle-O Racing Team may not have enjoyed the extreme highs of the previous season in 2011 though it showed it is among the leading contenders while also saying goodbye to fan favourite Paul Dumbrell.
‘Team green’ entered the year again as part of the factory Ford fold and the season was always going to be an emotional one knowing it was Dumbrell’s last as a full-time driver.
The team endured a tough start which was never more evident then when Dumbrell made heavy contact with the wall in New Zealand in extremely wet conditions.
The #55 The Bottle-O FPR Falcon was heavily damaged and he was forced to sit out Saturday’s race, though a Herculean effort by the crew saw the car repaired overnight and take part in the Sunday race where he qualified a surprise 11th.
Stronger results through the mid-year were inline with those of factory team-mates Mark Winterbottom and Will Davison, though a soft tyre issue hindered progress at Winton and Queensland Raceway.
However, this proved the turning point as the team made major gains in speed and by the endurance races looked far more settled.
Dean Canto returned to the co-driver seat for Phillip Island and Bathurst and was quick from the outset.
PD finished second in his qualifying race at PI and he and Canto looked set for a remarkable result at Bathurst until being taken out by another car in the closing laps.
The pair ran faultlessly all day and the top five beckoned until getting they were caught out during a late race safety car period.
With PD at the wheel car #55 looked set to move back through the top 10 until being punted into the wall by Shane van Gisbergen.
Despite the disappointment the team was again strong at the Gold Coast with international driver Christian Klien onboard.
Klien and PD drove a great race one only to then be taken out on the first lap of the second race with Klien at the wheel.
Car speed improved further in the final three events and PD enjoyed his best weekend of the year in Tasmania.
He topped practice times, grabbed his second career pole with a late dash at top spot and clung on to finish fourth behind Davison and Winterbottom.
One week later he returned to Sandown and while he couldn’t repeat his previous year’s victory, he was again one of the fastest drivers in the field.
The weekend was especially important though as Team Principal Rod Nash announced a three-year extension to the team’s deals with The Bottle-O and FPR – guaranteeing RNR’s future until at least the end of 2015.
At the season finale in Sydney PD looked set to end his full-time career on a high.
After qualifying fifth for his final race he spent the bulk of the race running second to Winterbottom.
With only a few laps to go he made a small error and spun only to then be hit hard by the pursuing Lee Holdsworth. The damage put him out and ended a year of highs and lows, but more importantly the career of one of the most popular drivers in the field.
Dumbrell’s year might not have turned out as planned but with the obvious pace of the car, a new driver on the way and stable backing, the team is set for an exciting 2012 season.
Paul Dumbrell - #55 The Bottle-O FPR Falcon
Championship position: 24th- 1242 points
Wins: Nil – Best Result: 4th - Tasmania
Podiums: Nil
Poles: 1 - Tasmania
“While it is sad to end my full-time career I have thoroughly enjoyed being a V8 Supercar driver week in week out for the last nine years. The results this year have not been what the team deserved and it was heartbreaking to end how we did. That said, the car was very quick and should have been on the podium at least once in the last few events given Will and Frosty’s form. Rod (Nash), Tim and everyone at FPR gave me my most successful period ever in my career and to win with them will always be something I remember. I wish them all the best for next season.”
Rod Nash – Team Principal
“Paul Dumbrell leaves us now to pursue new interests he wants to achieve both in his business career along with his other sporting love of Ironman events. PD has done an exceptional job for the team in the past two years when he joined us at the start 2010 when we formed our relationship with FPR in 2010. His success since then with two podiums and two pole positions was a fantastic achievement for us all. Although this year we didn’t crack a race win, PD has driven some great races and been ultra-competitive all the way through. He will continue to be a close personal friend though on behalf of RNR I want to thank Paul for his great contribution to our team. We congratulate him on his success and most of all wish him all the best in his future competitions.”
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