Thursday, 31 January 2019:
 | | MICHAEL CARUSO driver of the #23 Nissan Motorsport Nissan Altima looks on prior to qualiyfying for the Bathurst 1000, which is part of the Supercars Championship at Mount Panorama in Bathurst, Australia. | |
|
Just weeks ahead of the 2019 Supercars opening round, Michael Caruso is searching for a full-time drive after being cut by Nissan's Kelly Racing.
The former Bathurst 1000 podium winner may have to settle for a co-driver gig for this year's three enduro rounds after Kelly Racing jettisoned the popular 35-year-old from their four-car squad.
Andre Heimgartner and Garry Jacobson are in the mix to secure the two remaining seats at Kelly Racing for 2019 alongside Rick Kelly and Simona de Silvestro after ditching Caruso, who had been with the team since 2013.
The brutal dumping of Caruso ahead of the opening round in Adelaide from February 28 earned sympathy from fellow driver Lee Holdsworth.
"Sucks to see a bloke as good as @michaelcarus0 out of a full time gig. It's a cruel sport at times!" he tweeted.
However, Holdsworth may yet team up with Caruso in the enduro rounds this year.
Holdsworth's new Ford team Tickford Racing are yet to confirm their enduro co-driver line-up after Dean Canto made himself unavailable for 2019.
Two-time race winner Caruso had been lined up to be the co-driver for Holden ace Shane van Gisbergen this season before being surprisingly leapfrogged by veteran Garth Tander.
Caruso finished 18th in the 2018 standings.
"Look, it's sad, but also I guess a part of life," Caruso told speedcafe.com.
"We shared a lot of success together from things like winning a race at Darwin, and leading the championship, the first time Nissan had done since the glory days of Mark Skaife and Jim Richards.
"I was really proud to be a part of the whole program."
