Dumbrell: Good Bathurst result crucial for Dunlop Series title

Dunlop Series leader Paul Dumbrell has said there will be no room for error during the category's mini-enduro at the upcoming Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 if he wants to clinch the 2014 title.

The winner of the single 250km race around Mount Panorama will be awarded 300 points for victory, which poses a massive bearing on the championship standings heading into the final round at the Sydney 500 in December.

With only four points currently separating Dumbrell to title contender Ash Walsh, the Eggleston Motorsport pilot said he would have to "play smart" to remain at the top in thetitle chase.

"It's the pinnacle round, really. If you have a good round here and things go to plan you're going to be in the best position to have a good shot at the championship come Homebush," Dumbrelltold v8supercars.com.au.

"It's one race and if anything goes wrong or you have a bad day, you'll pay for it dearlyand it might be a lead that you won't be able to overcome at the last race.

"We've just got to go there and do the best job we can and work on the car throughout practice and qualifying come the 250km race. It's a long way and something that's not going to be a sprint to the finish, but more of an endurance race - you've got to play smart, look after the tyres and also the great thing this year is that we'll have our crews there as well."

With eight years of experience as a full-time V8 Supercar driver, as well as acting co-driver for five-time V8 Supercar Champion Jamie Whincup for the Pirtek Enduro Cup, the 32-year-old is no stranger to longer race formats like the newly-introduced Dunlop Series mini-enduro.

Despite his wealth of experience that will benefit hiscampaign at the mountain, Dumbrell hasn't discounted his title rivals.

"It's a longer race and I've done those stints at Bathurst - I've had to do double stints and I've had to do a number of those 1000km races," he said.

"Hopefully that gives me a bit more experience, but Ash [Walsh] has done the same thing and he's very experienced.

"It's just going to be one of those championships - Ash will have a strong race at Bathurst, no doubt we will as well and it will really come down to that last race at Homebush in a few months time."

Although the 2012 Bathurst winner is familiar with longer race stints, Dumbrell said the new format may see more safety cars during the race as the rookies of the series come to grips with the single 250km race format.

"It's certainly going to be a challenge [for the rookies]," he said.

"I remember in my first couple of years at Bathurst, you go from racing for 20-30minutes to then go up to stints of up to an hour and a half, two hours - that was a big shock for me.

"It took me a couple of years to get used to and it's going to be an interesting development. There might be a few more safety cars in the race because of the length of the race, but as well with getting the teams involved with the pit stops - it's going to be a great interaction with the teams and will really enable the teams to put their best foot forward as well."

See the Dunlop Series titlefight ignite at the series' first ever mini-enduro at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000. Click here to book your tickets now.