DEAN Fiore is taking a page out of Paul Dumbrell’s playbook when he tackles this year’s Dunlop Super2 Series.
The 34-year-old will race a Nissan for Matthew White Motorsport in the seven-round championship, his first full championship tilt since stepping away from a full-time drive at the end of the 2013 Supercars season.
Fiore has spent the seasons since as Michael Caruso’s Enduro Cup co-driver at Nissan Motorsport, and is following Dumbrell’s approach of racing in Super2 to ensure he is sharp as soon as practice begins for the opening endurance race, the Sandown 500.
LIVE stream every race of the 2018 Supercars Championship AD-FREE on FOX SPORTS. Get your free 2-week Foxtel Now trial and start watching in minutes. SIGN UP NOW >
ENTRY LIST: Every car and driver on the 2018 Supercars grid
FRESH START: Jack Le Brocq joins Adrian Burgess-led Tekno
NO STRESS: Why Frosty’s not sweating on contract talks
“In my opinion, the way that Paul Dumbrell has gone about it is definitely the way to maximise your contribution once you step into the Enduro Cup,” Fiore told foxsports.com.au.
“In the past it’s been really quick for me to get up to speed, but last year it took me a full day to get my stuff together before I was fully comfortable and up to speed.
“I’ve been wanting to do Super2 for a while, I’ve just never been able to afford to do it. An old sponsor of mine gave me a call out of the blue and said ‘can you piece a program together for us next year’ — and here we are!
“And it makes perfect sense to go with Matty White because of the synergy with Nissan Motorsport and I know all the guys there quite well.”
Although MWM ran wildcard entries in Supercars championship events in 2017, Fiore’s program is focused solely on the Super2 events.
“The Super2 calendar works really well for me, so that was another reason why it all made perfect sense,” he said.
“I’ve got plenty going on in the property game back here in Perth. With the seven-round championship, and with one of the rounds being in Perth, I’m only away on four extra occasions — the other two are coupled up with the endurance events at Sandown and Bathurst.
“The plus for me is the extra laps on those weekends, so it just makes you even more dialled in when you jump into the main car.
“The way that I’ve got the car set up in terms of ergonomics, I’ve literally got the measurements from Caruso’s car and put them in my Super2 car. So when I transfer over, it’s literally a matter of pulling out the seat insert and putting it in the main car.”
He will have his first drive of the MWM Nissan at a test day at Winton on February 13 ahead of the opening Super2 Series round at the Adelaide 500 on March 1-4.
