Michael Caruso re-signs new driving deal with Nissan Motorsport

Michael Caruso, driver of the #36 Norton Nissan Altima, will remain a Nissan Motorsport driver for the foreseeable future, having signed a new deal with the official factory V8 Supercars team.

Michael Caruso, Team Norton

Photo by: Nissan Motorsports

Caruso, 30, has had a number of highlights during the 2013 season, including five top 10 finishes in his #36 Norton-sponsored Nissan, plus his brilliant second place result behind team-mate James Moffat at Winton in August.

The 2014 season will mark Caruso’s seventh full-time season in V8 Supercars which has seen him take one race win (Hidden Valley, 2009) and five podium finishes.

Next year’s championship kicks off on the streets of Adelaide for the world-famous Clipsal 500 (February 27-March 2).

Michael Caruso, #36 Norton Nissan Altima: “It’s great to re-sign with Nissan Motorsport. After what has been a development year for the team, I’m excited about what the future holds with Nissan and Norton,” said Michael Caruso.

“We had our highlight result at Winton with the 1-2, and we’ve got a lot of improvements coming for 2014 so I really wanted to be a part of that and it’s great that I can now put all of my focus there.

“Stability is absolutely critical in Nissan’s return to the category, and that exactly what we’ll have for next year.

“When you have the same people in the cars and the same group of engineers and mechanics, it’s definitely going to start paying dividends.

“I’m very excited and it’s a nice bonus to announce it here at the Sydney 500. It’s my home event and to tell my home town followers that I’m going to continue on in the same team next year is perfect.”

John Crennan, Nissan Motorsport CEO: “Michael’s re-signing is enthusiastically welcomed by everyone in our team, our sponsors and Nissan,” said John Crennan.

“He is a genuine elite driver in the V8 Supercar ranks and is deserving of his factory driver status, and is also an outstanding ambassador for our business partners and the sport in general.

“In a sport where there are so many driver/team deals done as 'marriages of convenience,' Michael's re-signing with us is as a result of a genuine business and sporting criteria evaluation by both parties ... These are certainly the deals that endure and sustain best in this sport.”

Jeff Fisher, General Manager, Motorsport, Nissan Motor Company: “Michael Caruso has show plenty of the form that caught our eye last year when he was driving for a rival team,” said Jeff Fisher.

“Indeed, he's led our driver group on several occasions around various circuits this year and when we put a podium-ready Altima under him in 2014, there’s no doubt you'll see fireworks.”

Nissan Motorsport