Dean Fiore Confirmed at LDM

Dean Fiore celebrated hisconfirmation as driver of the second car for Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport bysetting the fourth quickest time during V8 Supercars’ official pre-season teston Saturday. Fiore, 29, will drive the #88 Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport VF Commodore,partnering rookie Scott Pye in the now two-car Holden team which is enteringits fourth season. Dumbrell confirmed Fiore’s signing just prior to the test at Sydney MotorsportPark. “I am really excited to be part of Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport and happy to behere and ready for my fifth fulltime season in V8 Supercars,” Fiore said. “Lucas has a solid vision for the direction of the team and has established aclose link with Triple Eight Race Engineering. “Scott [Pye] is a part of the Triple Eight family, so the ties are strong.

"My initial experiences of the car during Saturday's test were extremelypositive, so I'm very encouraged about the season ahead." As part of the technical alliance, Triple Eight championship-winning dataengineer, David Cauchi will engineer Fiore’s VF Commodore. “The opportunity to work with ‘Cauchi’ is also exciting; he spent eight yearsat Triple Eight and he’s worked closely with both Craig [Lowndes] and Jamie[Whincup]. He’s got Triple Eight’s winning tradition installed in him, so he’sgoing to be an invaluable asset to our team,” Fiore said. Dumbrell said he was delighted to have Fiore join his team as it expanded totwo cars. “Dean is a high-calibre driver who has proven his versatility in a variety ofrace cars, not just V8 Supercars,” Dumbrell said. “His experience will enable him to make a smooth transition to the Car Of TheFuture chassis, while I believe LDM is providing him with the opportunity hedeserves – leading equipment and an enthusiastic team on the rise.” Fiore said his move comes with the full backing of his long-time supporters,Mackay, North Queensland businesses R & T Pumps and Sharps Heavy EquipmentRepairs. “Tony Warne (R& T Pumps) and Graham Sharp have stood by me for a long time andwere the launching pad for me joining LDM, so I can’t thank them enough,” Fioresaid. The #88 LDM Commodore remained in a plain white livery during Saturday’s test,with a new naming rights partner and livery to be announced shortly. The opening round of the 2013 V8 Supercar Championship is the Clipsal 500 inAdelaide, 28 February-3 March.