Dumbrell, Autobarn confirmed at HSV.

As expected, V8 Supercar regular sponsor Autobarn has joined forces with the HSV Dealer Team for 2008, with Paul Dumbrell signed to drive the #16 car vacated by new champion Garth Tander.

The Autobarn car was unveiled at Winton Raceway, where a number of teams took to the track for the first time in 2008 as part of a V8 Supercar corporate rides day programme, and the agreement will result in the HSV Dealer Team staffing and servicing the car, with Dumbrell driving in Autobarn livery for the 14 rounds of the 2008 V8 Supercar season alongside HSV stalwart Rick Kelly, whose own 2008 livery was revealed last week.

Dumbrell said that, with the V8 Supercar series now so competitive, the advantage of being involved with Walkinshaw Racing played a large part in his decision to join the HSV team for 2008.

"Having jumped behind the wheel for the first time this morning, I'm already very impressed with the set-up and the professionalism of the team," Dumbrell admitted, "You just have to look at how well those four cars went last year. All of them finished in the top ten, which says a lot about the structure of the teams and personnel they have around them, as well as the top drivers they have involved. Naturally, I want to perform well this year and being part of a thoroughly prepared, professionally run outfit is a really important part of those plans."

The HSV Dealer Team will run a 'two car garage' in 2008, with Autobarn being the naming rights sponsor of the car Dumbrell will drive. Dumbrell will be joined for the endurance events at Phillip Island and Bathurst by rising star Marcus Zukanovic, a previous CAMS Motorsport personality of the year, who regularly competes in the V8 Supercar Fujitsu Series.

"We're going to get together in the next few weeks to talk about the endurance events," Dumbrell said, "but Marcus's a great driver and I am looking forward to working with him later in the year."