THEY have the longest standing driver/co-driver partnership in this year’s Bathurst 1000 field and given the regard Jamie Whincup has for Paul Dumbrell, it’s easy to understand why.
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This year’s Great Race will mark the sixth time that Whincup has shared his seat with Dumbrell, continuing a partnership which began when the latter stepped down from full-time racing.
The pair have found good success together, their efforts including winning the Enduro Cup in 2014 and the Bathurst 1000 in 2012.
They’ve had their share of disappointment as well, especially at Mount Panorama, but Whincup’s respect for the man he calls PD has only grown.
“That’s really critical - a good co-driver - and all the teams work really hard 12 months out trying to grab the best co-driver they can find. I don’t think there’s any better than PD,” he said.
That's really critical - a good co-driver.
- Jamie Whincup
“Continuity is a good thing, to be able to have the same co-driver since 2012 which is great and we are good mates as well and that always makes it a bit easier.”
Whincup and Dumbrell are one of nine pairings which have remained intact from last season.
Two of them have found previous success at Mount Panorama – Will Davison and Jonathon Webb (2016) plus Craig Lowndes and Steve Richards (2015).