Newest Dunlop Series Team Unveils 2014 Drivers
The newest team in the Dunlop Series, GMJ Motorsport, today unveiled its driver lineup for the 2014 season.
Experienced racers Geoff Emery, Matt Hansen and Jim Pollicina have been confirmed at Melbourne-based operation, with the team title derived from the first letter of each driver’s name.
The squad will operate out of the Dandenong facility previously used by Greg Murphy Racing.
All drivers enter next weekend’s season-opening Clipsal 500 with proven packages. Emery retains the ex-Craig Lowndes, Triple Eight Race Engineering Holden VEII Commodore he used last year, while Hansen has also acquired a T8 Commodore – the one driven by Scott Pye to second in the 2012 standings.
After running a Tasman Motorsport Commodore last season, Pollicina has switched to the blue oval – he will drive an ex-Ford Performance Racing FG Falcon.
Of the three drivers, Emery is the most experienced in the category. In fact, his 50 DVS starts rank him second on the all-time “most starts” list.Emery’s credentials in other categories are among the finest in the field; his best-known achievement being his five national titles in the competitive Commodore Cup series.
In a vote of confidence, Emery (car pictured above) has retained major support from R&J Batteries, as well as most of his 2013 partners.
“I’m looking forward to this season and I think the format of two longer races at each round is definitely a positive,” Emery said.
“I’ve had experience in endurance races, so the longer distance doesn’t worry me and it’s an opportunity for more track time and exposure.
“I have a new engineer for this year in Dean Lillie, who has had a lot of success in many forms of motorsport as an engineer, but also a driver. The fact that he races himself is definitely a benefit, as he’s able to understand and relate to my feedback on how the car is behaving.”
Successful Sydney businessman Pollicina returns to the Dunlop Series with backing from MoComm Racing Communications. Pollicina is another driver with a wealth of experience in different types of cars, including Holdens and Mitsubishis in the NSW Production Touring Car Championship, Australian Manufacturers Championship and Bathurst 12 Hour.
Pollicina progressed to the V8 Touring Car Series (for older model V8 Supercars) in 2011, making the transition with ease and regularly contending for top three results.
After spending last year to learn the DVS, Pollicina is ready for a more spirited attack in 2014, sporting a new major backer in MoComm.
“Last year was really a learning year, but now I’ve learned all the tracks, I’ll be aiming for top 15 results,” Pollicina said.
“As well as the car, I’ve also secured an engine deal with FPR, which is definitely a benefit.
“With the longer races, tyre conservation will be an issue and we’ll have to think very carefully about how we manage our tyres in both qualifying and the races.”
West Australian Hansen is another driver with experience in the V8TC, but while he contesting a one-off DVS round with Greg Murphy Racing in 2011, this will be his first full season in the category – new sponsors Vanglobe Matrix and The Toys Collective supporting his campaign along with family companies Forpark and Australian Custom Moulders.
“I’m pretty confident and comfortable heading into this year, especially with the great car I have,” Hansen said.
“The Kumho Series helped me a lot with teaching me how to drive these cars, but I’m under no illusions that I’ll still have a lot to learn this season. I’ll be visiting a lot of tracks for the first time, including some street circuits which are quite daunting, and I’ll also have to come to grips with the Dunlop tyre.”
The 2014 Dunlop Series begins at next week's Clipsal 500, with the cars on track from Thursday. Two 27-lap races will be completed across the weekend. The Dunlop Series is just one of a number of great on-track categories running at the V8 Supercars event – tickets are available now to the Clipsal 500, beginning Thursday February 27.
