[JC Ohope]

RNR keeping their options open for 2012

V8 Supercars team owner Rod Nash is keeping his options open as pit lane chat revs up over potential 2012 driver changes.

Nash, owner of the Rod Nash Racing licence that enters Paul Dumbrell in the Ford Performance Racing Bottle-O Falcon, could hold one of the big drawcard drives if Dumbrell decides to retire at the end of this season – an intention he reconfirmed to Speedcafe.com in April.

If Dumbrell does stick to his early retirement plan, the RNR drive becomes one of the hottest seats in town.

Fujitsu Racing’s Lee Holdsworth is one of the early contenders linked to the drive.

Holdsworth’s long-standing deal with Garry Rogers Motorsport expires at the end of the year.

Holdsworth and Toll Holden Racing Team’s Garth Tander appear to be the two biggest names on the out-of-contract list. Tander has stated in the past that his first option to stay with HRT, while some have linked him to a switch to Kelly Racing.

Nash says that if Dumbrell decides to continue driving, the seat is his, but if he’s out, he has some quality options.

“At the moment, Paul is driving the car next year. He has a deal for next year and that’s where it is now,” Nash told Speedcafe.com.

“My options are fairly clear. If Paul wants to drive, he’s on board, but that will be 100 percent Paul’s decision. If he decides it’s time, then there are some good options out there and we’ll certainly be looking at them to match the level of Will (Davison) and Mark (Winterbottom).”

Nash said that he met with Dumbrell recently to discuss his future and that little had changed in his future thoughts.

“We had a meeting during the week and I raised the discussion about future years, and he still made it clear that he is going along, but it just depends how he feels as he goes through the motions,” Nash said.

“He’s always said that if he ever lost the passion, he’d pull the pin, but we’ve still got plenty of the year to go and he’s keeping his options open. That conversation will probably happen again in two months I’d suggest. From a team, point of view, we need to have a driver at the level of FPR.”