Rullo, Dumbrell share emotional stories

Life-changing events for driver Alex Rullo and team owner Lucas Dumbrell feature in an emotional latest episode of Supercars Life.

Screened tonight on Fox Sports 501 at 6:30pm, the program focusses on the tragic events that have shaped the lives of both youngsters.

Dumbrell’s story as Supercars’ first quadriplegic team owner is well known, having been a rising driver talent before a crash in a Formula Ford at Oran Park in 2008.

His eponymous Supercars team has been in operation since 2010 and, while very much the minnow of the field, scored a win at the Clipsal 500 and a Bathurst podium last season.

Rullo raced with LDM in Super2 in 2016 before being fast-tracked into the team’s main series program this year.

The 17-year-old school boy’s rapid rise has been supported by his father Peter – a highly successful businessman in their native Western Australia.

Images of Alex Rullo with his late mother, Nicole, as featured on Supercars Life

Speaking on Supercars Life, Peter said he vowed to give his son every opportunity in racing after Nicole Rullo, wife to Peter and mother of Alex, succumbed to cancer three years ago.

“With what happened with Nicole it gave me a different perspective on life,” said Rullo, who has also dabbled in driving over recent years.

“I was a bit of a workaholic and suppose I still am, but I kind of thought ‘what is it actually all for?’.

“I thought if I can give Alex the best opportunity to fufil his dreams then that’s what I’d try and do.”

Rullo has put immense faith in Dumbrell to guide his son’s career and says the two share a strong bond.

“Both Lucas and Alex have had some hardships in life growing up,” he said.

“They’re both different but I think they can related in that way. There’s that respect and bond between them both.”

Also reflecting during the program on his accident as a 19-year-old, Dumbrell praised the emotional strength of his young driver.

An image of Dumbrell's crash screened on Supercars Life

“It’s a unique situation that I had a serious life changing event becoming a quadriplegic as the result of a race car crash and Alex has had his mother pass away from breast cancer,” said Dumbrell.

“I can’t comment on how that would be because I haven’t experienced that, but we have experienced two similar life-changing things.

“He’s emotionally such a strong young kid. I can’t imagine how it would be to lose a parent when he was 13.”

Dumbrell’s crash brought an end to his own driving career but did not turn him away from the sport.

“It’s a little bit frustrating for me to see young guys come up and drive because I’m so envious that I could be in their position,” he added.

“But at the same time if this is the best I can do and if I can help young guys come through and have a go that’s something I want to try and do.”

Tonight’s Supercars Life episode also takes a look at Todd Kelly’s recent trip across Bass Strait on a jetski.

Trailer: Supercars Life, Season 3, Episode 5