Paul Dumbrell in action at Barbagello Raceway. Photo / Mark Horsburgh
SYDNEY - Holden driver Paul Dumbrell will miss this weekend's round seven of the V8 Supercar Championship at Queensland Raceway.
Dumbrell fractured a finger on his left hand prior to the Darwin round last month but battled through with pain killing injections.
The injury required surgery on his
return to Melbourne, pins were inserted and the finger requires a few more weeks to heal.
Paul Weel will take Dumbrell's spot in the Supercheap Auto Racing team, which gives him valuable time behind the wheel of the VE Commodore he'll be piloting at the Sandown and Bathurst endurance rounds this year.
"It's disappointing to have to give up the seat for the Queensland round. I thought my finger may have recovered in time ... but the fact it's my gear-changing hand convinced me it would be better to leave the pins in for another two weeks," Dumbrell said.
"The extra time will mean I'll be ready for Oran Park and the endurance races."
Weel said he didn't like having to take a drive through someone else's misfortune but was looking forward to the opportunity.
"I drove the VE Commodore yesterday at testing and by the end of the day I felt very comfortable behind the wheel," Weel said.
"It will be a real confidence booster to get back in the car for some racing prior to the enduros later in the year."
The round begins on Friday with practice before qualifying and the first 38-lap race on Saturday.
Two more races follow on Sunday.
- AAP
