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CARUSO TO PERFORM DOUBLE DUTY AT BATHURST

By Dan McCarthy

TCR Australia driver and former Supercars Championship full-timer Michael Caruso has confirmed that he will perform double duty at the Bathurst 1000 when both TCR and Supercars race at The Mountain.

The New South Welshman is looking forward to competing double duty, racing a Garry Rogers Motorsport prepared Alfa Romeo TCR car and the Team 18 Holden Commodore alongside former Bathurst 1000 winner Mark Winterbottom.

Caruso is one of six TCR Australia drivers that have signed up to contest the Bathurst 1000 this year and is looking forward to the opportunity.

“I’m really looking forward to double duties at Bathurst, especially in two really different styles of touring cars,” said Caruso.

“Any time you race at Bathurst, it’s special, regardless of what car you are in.

“TCR is going to be fantastic, especially with the 400km format over the three longer races.”

Despite the difference in vehicles Caruso believes there will be no problem adapting between the front-wheel drive Alfa Romeo and rear-wheel drive Commodore.

“Add that into my duties as a co-driver for Team 18 in the 1000 is going to be massive,” Caruso said.

“It’s a massive week for the sport, and something really special. Who knows if we’ll get to do anything like this ever again.

“I’m going there in both cars with a good opportunity to win. It would be great to take out the touring car double at Bathurst.

“When I did double duties in the Development Series and Supercars, those cars handled different, and needed to be driven differently, so you just adapted and got on with it.

“I can’t see this being any more of a challenge to that, and it will be a bonus to have more track time. It will help get myself into the zone for the big race on Sunday.”

In the most recent TCR race at Sydney Motorsport Park back in May Caruso broke through for his maiden TCR Australia victory.

Caruso expects that longer races at the Bathurst 1000 will give him an advantage.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been in the Valvoline Alfa, but that format is perfect for me,” Caruso expressed.

“It’s where I feel like I’m going to come into my own. They’ll be strategies in the race, because I don’t think that you’re going to have to be able to go hell for leather.

“All of the different makes have different capabilities, and 21 laps around the mountain in a TCR car is going to be a challenge, but fun.”

The six-day Bathurst 1000 event will take place from November 30-December 5.

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