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Nissan co-drivers revealed in Perth

30 Apr 2015
Dean Fiore and Taz Douglas confirmed as endurance drivers for Nissan Motorsport.
3 mins by James Pavey
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Dean Fiore and Taz Douglas will suit up again with Nissan Motorsport for the V8 Supercars endurance races this year.

West Australian Fiore will team up with Michael Caruso for the second-consecutive year, driving the #23 NISMO Nissan Altima V8 at the Wilson Security Sandown 500, Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and Castrol Gold Coast 600.

"I'm super excited to be a part of the team again, especially given that I'll be driving the car with the factory Nissan backing. That's a huge thing," said Fiore.

"I can't wait for the endurance races later this year. We had some really good speed and managed to get on the podium at the Gold Coast.

"Michael was keen to lock me in, and I was only too happy to get the deal done. It feels natural to be a part of the squad - I feel like I've been racing with these guys for years and years."

Having spent over four years as a full-time V8 Supercars driver, Fiore stepped back into an endurance-only role and was a valued, experienced addition to Nissan Motorsport's line-up.

Fiore and Caruso produced a podium finish in 2014, taking third place in Sunday's race at the Gold Coast street track last year. It was Fiore's first podium result in the V8 Supercars Championship.

"The podium last year wasn't much of a surprise. We had genuine speed at Sandown and Bathurst, but had some things not go out way. When everything went to plan on Sunday, it was great to get the podium and easily the highlight of my V8 career."

Victorian Douglas also returns to the four-car factory Nissan team, lining-up alongside James Moffat in the #99 Nissan Altima V8 Supercar.

It will be the third-straight season that Moffat and Douglas have driven together, after taking an amazing second place finish at last year's Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

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"It's a no-brainer for me to return to Nissan Motorsport with James," said Douglas.

"The team is one of the hardest working bunch of guys I've ever come across, and it was great to reward them with the podium at Bathurst last year.

"That was my first V8 podium, and to achieve that at the biggest race of the year was something that I will never forget.

"It will be handy to get some laps in the #99 later today. I'm also racing in the Dunlop Series here in Perth, so to bank even more laps is a big bonus."

Both Fiore and Douglas will get laps of their respective Nissan Altima V8 Supercars at Barbagallo Raceway today, driving in the two 60-minute practice sessions.

Other additional drivers listed for today's session include:

- Warren Luff and Jack Perkins in the #2 and #22 Holden Racing Team cars, and Tony D'Alberto in the Supercheap Auto Racing Commodore.

- Jack Le Brocq in the #4 Erebus E63.

- Andrew Jones, Luke Youlden and Macauley Jones across the #8, #14 and #21.

The endurance drivers for Todd and Rick Kelly will be announced in due course.

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