If 23 year-old Michael Caruso’s driving performance last weekend during round
six of
the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series, coupled with a solid Supercheap Auto
Bathurst 1000
debut are anything to go by, it appears the Mona Vale based
workshop of Speed
FX/Decina Racing is directing a positive future for some of
Australia’s most aspiring
drivers.Caruso’s eighth placing in the
development series was enough for him to remain in
contention to secure a
Championship podium during his debut season when the Decina
team lines up for
the Grand Finale at Phillip Island on December 8-10. Decina Racing team
manager Jim Morton believes his young charge will be further
buoyed by the
experience of completing 33 laps of the Mount Panorama circuit when
asked to
assist the Team BOC team and co-drive with Dale Brede in the Super Cheap
Auto
Bathurst 1000. “Michael was flawless and did a fantastic job in his first
ever stint behind the
wheel of a main series V8 Supercar. The extra laps he
did on the tough Bathurst
circuit will hold him well when we travel to
Victoria for the final round of the
Fujitsu Series,” said
Morton. “Unfortunately, Michael’s team mate failed to pump the brakes
after a pad change and
crashed into the wall which prematurely ended their
campaign.
“But the feedback from Team BOC was most complimentary and it’s
these sorts of
experiences which can only benefit Michael’s development
towards a future full-time
drive in the main game of V8
Supercars.” Competing in the pinnacle event on the Australian V8 Supercar
calendar, up against
the likes of eventual winners Craig Lowndes and Jamie
Whincup plus reigning series
champion Russell Ingall, was a huge thrill for
the Collaroy driver. “My season goal was to be as competitive as possible
and prove to the Decina team
that I have the ability to be a major player in
the Fujitsu V8’s,” said Caruso. “Like any driver, Bathurst is always on
the radar and competing in the main event has
always been one of my lifelong
dreams. “Although the circumstances weren’t ideal I just wanted to do the
job for the team
and I feel comfortable with what I was able to put together
out on the track. “I’d love to have the opportunity to do it all again
next year but my main priority
now is to focus all my attention towards a
solid result at Phillip Island. “Hopefully we can shoot ourselves towards
a podium which would be a great milestone
during my first season in V8
Supercars.” Motor racing stars past, present and future abounded at
Bathurst with Morton's Speed
FX/Decina Racing Team also taking on board
Australia's top junior karter, Grant Smith
as the team’s cadet for the
weekend. Grant has won the Australian Championships the past two years
for the top junior
class and will soon move into the senior ranks. At
just 16, the second generation karter has already eclipsed his father’s
sole
Australian Karting Championship and seems to have a strong career ahead
of him, not
unlike many who have transcended a path in motor sport under the
watchful eye of
Decina Racing team boss Jim Morton.
| 
