EXCLUSIVE - K-Mart summer clearance: Richo, Murph out; Lowndes in
3/1/2001 11:56 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) - A Silly Season stocktake at K-Mart Racing has resulted in a startling summer overhaul involving former chief Fred Gibson and the country’s most sought-after driver, Craig Lowndes.
V8 WIRE has exclusively uncovered K-Mart Racing’s secret 2001 blueprint, validated by sources within the Melbourne-based operation. Gone are boss Garry Dumbrell, Steven Richards and Greg Murphy, to be replaced by Gibson and an all-new driving squadron led by Lowndes and Rodney Forbes.
Recently divorced from the Holden Racing Team, Lowndes will end weeks of uncertainty and find a home in the K-Mart garage this season.
The move is a favourable one, as it allows Lowndes to continue his association with General Motors. Forming new bonds with K-Mart and Castrol (Gibson’s principal backers) would also be attractive to Lowndes – who was seeking a bigger share of the promotional and merchandising returns from his previous employer, HRT.
Forbes, 33, will leave the Wynn’s “sister” car behind and step-up into a K-Mart mount.
The Victorian’s namesake Racing unit had been sharing Gibson’s Dandenong headquarters and, despite mediocre performances, has been given the high-profile promotion.
It is not known what role Forbes’ father/manager Bob – a newly-elected member of the TEGA board – will have in the Gibson-led outfit.
While Steven Richards has all-but-confirmed his position in a Ford-Tickford Racing Falcon next season, Greg Murphy’s future is clouded. It is believed he instigated the departure from K-Mart Racing, and will look elsewhere for employment in 2001.
Gibson will take the reigns from Dumbrell as owner/manager, after recently purchasing back his namesake operation and franchise.
The lure of working with three-times champ Lowndes was obviously too much for Gibson, who will emerge from semi-retirement to captain the team. It is believed Dumbrell bailed after just one season to devote more time to his oil company, Wynn’s.
While the driving stocks have been replenished with new blood, it will be a return to the glory days of Gibson Motorsport somewhat with the return of Gibson and the recruitment of former Manager Alan Heaphy.
Heaphy – who moved north to CAT Racing early last year – will return to Melbourne to once again become Gibson’s right-hand man. Heaphy was the mastermind behind the team’s Bathurst win in 1999, and a long-time associate of Gibson.
Meanwhile, Garry Dumbrell’s son, 18-year-old Formula Holden young-gun Paul, will pilot a Gibson-prepared VT Commodore in next year’s Konica Series.
The dismantling of the Wynn’s-backed division of the workshop will allow the team to run Dumbrell’s mount in-house. It is unclear who will finance the campaign.
Gibson Motorsport’s hierarchy are still on their summer hiatus, and were unavailable for comment. Staff have been receiving regular updates on developments.
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