MICHAEL Caruso will make his Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia Powered by AWS debut in November as part of the Bathurst International.
The two-time Repco Supercars Championship race winner will join forces with Marc Cini in a Melbourne Performance Centre-prepared Audi R8 for the three-hour endurance event on November 11-13.
Three months later, they’ll be back at it again, teaming up for the 2023 Bathurst 12 Hour.
“I’m very excited to say I will be racing at the Bathurst International in GT, which will be fantastic,” Caruso said on Stan Sport’s Pit Lane podcast.
“I’ll be joining Marc Cini, so it’s a great little warm-up, the Bathurst International, for GT cars because obviously the 12 Hour is early next year.
“This is a three-hour hitout. A good opportunity to get some laps, get up to speed, and prepare yourself for one of the biggest events, or international events, coming up.
“MPC is one of the best and most professional teams in pit lane. I already had a call from Troy (Russell) preparing me for what we need to do in the lead-up. But yeah, really excited.
“Actually, no pressure, because every time Marc has been up to Bathurst he’s had a trophy in his class, so he was pretty clear on that when he said to come race.”
Caruso will be on triple duties that weekend, also driving his Ashley Seward Motorsport Alfa Romeo in TCR Australia as well as featuring on the Stan Sport broadcast team.
“The good thing is they’re both left-hand-drive cars,” the 39-year-old said of hopping between the Audi R8 and Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR.
“Obviously, there are technical differences. And driving, I guess, different lines and what have you. But, ultimately, being able to sit on the same side of the car helps.”
Before then, Caruso will co-drive with Team 18’s Mark Winterbottom in the Repco Bathurst 1000 across October 6-9.
