SYDNEY, Australia – 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.
Confirmation of the deal means that the four-car Nissan Altima squad of Caruso, Todd Kelly, Rick Kelly and Winton race winner James Moffat will remain unchanged for Nissan's second year in the V8 Supercars category.
Caruso, 30, has had a number of highlights during the 2013 season, including five top 10 finishes in his #36 Norton-sponsored Nissan Altima, plus his brilliant second place result behind team-mate 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 on 27 February to 2 March 2014.
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 Australia
"Michael Caruso showed 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."
2013 V8 Supercars Championship
Final Driver's Points Standings after Race 36
1. Jamie Whincup 3094
2. Craig Lowndes 2966
3. Will Davison 2799
4. Mark Winterbottom 2793
5. Shane Van Gisbergen 2508
6. Fabian Coulthard 2501
7. Jason Bright 2381
8. Garth Tander 2322
9. David Reynolds 2058
10. Scott McLaughlin 1934
14. Rick Kelly 1754 (#15 Jack Daniel's Nissan Altima)
18. James Moffat 1448 (#360 Norton Nissan Altima)
23. Michael Caruso 1233 (#36 Norton Nissan Altima)
25. Todd Kelly 1139 (#7 Jack Daniel's Nissan Altima)
2013 V8 Supercars Championship Final Driver's Points Standings after Race 36
1. Red Bull Racing Australia 6100
2. Pepsi Max Crew FPR 5617
3. Brad Jones Racing 4927
4. Tekno Autosports 4474
5. Holden Racing Team 4330
6. Fujitsu Racing GRM 3340
7. Jack Daniel's Racing – Nissan Motorsport 2958
8. Norton Hornets – Nissan Motorsport 2711
9. Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport 2285
10. Erebus Motorsport V8 2247
2014 V8 Supercars Championship Schedule
Pre-Season Test Day (Sydney Motorsports Park, NSW) 15 February 2014
1. Clipsal 500 (Adelaide, SA) 27 February-2 March 2014 N/C. F1 Australian Grand Prix (Albert Park, VIC) 13-16 March 2014
2. Tasmania 400 (Symmons Plains, TAS) 28-30 March 2014
3. Winton 400 (Winton, VIC) 4-6 April 2014
4. ITM 500 Auckland (Pukekohe, NZL) 24-27 April 2014
5. Perth 400 (Barbagallo, WA) 16-18 May 2014
6. SKYCITY Triple Crown Darwin 400 (Hidden Valley, NT) 20-22 June 2014
7. Townsville 500 (Townsville, QLD) 4-6 July 2014
8. Coates Hire Ipswich 400 (Ipswich, QLD) 1-3 August 2014
9. Sydney Motorsport Park 400 (Eastern Creek, NSW) 22-24 August 2014
10. Wilson Security Sandown 500 (Sandown, VIC) 12-14 September 2014
11. Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 (Mount Panorama, NSW) 9-12 October 2014
12. ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600 (Surfers Paradise, QLD) 24-26 October 2014
13. Sargent Security Phillip Island 400 (Phillip Island, VIC) 16-16 November 2014
14. Sydney 500 (Sydney Olympic Park, NSW) 5-7 December 2014
About Nissan Motor Company
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with approximately 236,000 employees globally, Nissan sold more than 4.9 million vehicles and generated revenue of 9.6 trillion yen (USD 116.16 billion) in fiscal 2012.
Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of more than 60 models under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. In 2010, Nissan introduced the Nissan LEAF, and continues to lead in zero-emission mobility. The LEAF, the first mass-market, pure-electric vehicle launched globally, is now the best-selling EV in history.
For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN
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