Unchanged line-up for Eggleston Motorsport
V8 Supercars Dunlop Series reigning champions Eggleston Motorsport have confirmed an unchanged driver line-up for the 2015 season as it chases a unique place in the record books.
Reigning champ Paul Dumbrell, Garry Jacobson and Kiwi Ant Pedersen will return to the Melbourne-based team for the seven-round series in a trio of Triple Eight Race Engineering-built Commodores.
Dumbrell will chase history in a bid to become the first-ever driver to secure back-to-back titles in the V8 Supercars Dunlop Series as well as the first driver to win three crowns in the category.
Eggleston Motorsport will also be trying to become the first team to win the V8 Supercars Dunlop Series in consecutive seasons.
After a change in rules during the off-season to allow for a separate pool of numbers between the V8 Supercars Championship and the Dunlop Series, Dumbrell will carry the champion's number 1 this season.
It will be the first time a driver has competed with the coveted number 1 in V8 Supercars Dunlop Series history.
"After such a successful campaign in 2014 it is a privilege to come back to the EMS team again in 2015 and be able to wear the number 1," says 2002 and 2014 Dunlop Series Champion Dumbrell.
"This season is going to present a lot challenges with a lot of competition for the 2015 title. With Garry and Ant being in their second year with the team, both will no doubt start challenging for podium and wins throughout the year. I look forward to fighting with them for race wins."
Kiwi Pedersen finished 10th in last year's Dunlop Series and will again drive the team's #38 Commodore.
The former NZ SuperTourers Series runner-up finished an impressive 11th in the Supercheap Autp Bathurst 1000 last year in addition to his commitments with Eggleston Motorsport and is ready to improve this year.
"I'm extremely pleased to be joining EMS again for the 2015 season," says Pedersen.
"Given it will be my second full time season in the categorywe will be building on our 2014 results andIknow with the package we have that this will be our best chance at really making an impact and scoring some podiums."
Shepparton-based Garry Jacobson will also return for his second season with EMS in the #54 entry.
The 22-year-old has already started his season strongly with a class victory in the Bathurst 12 Hour but is very keen to improve on his 11th place in last year's Dunlop Series pointscore.
"It is great to be a part of the championship-winning team at Eggleston Motorsport once again andI see this as the perfect opportunity to consolidate and build on my results and experience from 2014," says Jacobson.
"It's the ideal combination to again be driving the #54 Holden and be working alongside the expertise of the team and my engineer Dan Kroehn.
"I look forward to being able to piece together everything I have learnt and make sure I am on the podium this year."
EMS Team Manager Rachael Wagg says the continuity of having the same driver line-up puts the team in good stead for the chase for back-to-back series victories.
"We have exceptionally high expectations of our drivers, and there is no reason why they can't all be at the very front," Wagg says.
"Paul has shown why he is one of the best in the business and we expect to see Ant and Garry giving him a run for his money this year."
Despite claiming the series last year, Wagg says the team has higher expectations this season.
"We were not dominant last year and certainly have a lot of unfinished business in the category," she says.
"Both Ant and Garry showed great speed at times, but their overall results were not a true reflection of their driving talent.
"Having the same drivers means that we go back to each track and literally start where we left off in 2014 and build on what we all learned.
"We are very serious about showing that we have the best cars, team and drivers in the V8 Supercars Dunlop Series and will come out firing at round one."
The 2015 V8 Supercars Dunlop Series will begin at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide from February 26 to March 1.
