Team 18 retains Luff, Caruso for enduros

Warren Luff and Michael Caruso will return with Team 18 for a third season in 2024, with the Melbourne squad the latest to announce its enduro line-ups.

The double announcement leaves just eight of 24 full-time co-driver seats left in 2024, with the enduro season to get underway at Sandown in September.

Six-time Bathurst podium-finisher Luff, who was loaned out by Walkinshaw Andretti United to Team 18 last year, returns to the team, albeit alongside recruit David Reynolds.

2009 podium-finisher Caruso, meanwhile, will race with 2013 Great Race winner Mark Winterbottom and Team 18 for a fourth straight season.

Luff and Caruso have unfinished business with the team, following double heartbreak in last year’s Repco Bathurst 1000.

Winterbottom and Caruso were on course for an 11th place finish before a cruel final-lap DNF due to a fuel issue, with Luff also missing out with Scott Pye.

The pairings combine for a staggering 82 Bathurst starts — 41 for Winterbottom/Caruso, and 41 for Reynolds/Luff — making Team 18 one of the most experienced teams on the grid come the enduros.

All four drivers will attend Team 18’s incoming test day at Winton Motor Raceway on Thursday 30 May.

"I'm thrilled to be returning to Team 18 for another shot at the enduros. Mark and I have built a solid partnership over the years and we work well together,” Caruso said.

Luff added: “I’m pumped to be back at Team 18 with Dave Reynolds and Tradie Beer Racing for this year's enduro campaign. I had a great time with Team 18 last year and excited to be back with the team this year.

"Teaming up with David Reynolds for the first time is an exciting opportunity. He had a great run there at the first round so I'm eager to bring my experience to the table and work with him to achieve strong results at both Sandown and Bathurst."

Team owner Charlie Schwerkolt was keen to get two experienced heads back in for thew longest races of the season.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to welcome Michael and Warren back as our co-drivers for the 2024 enduros," Schwerkolt said.

"Their wealth of experience speaks volumes, and alongside Frosty and Dave, we boast an incredibly formidable lineup for the endurance races.

"Their combined knowledge and expertise will undoubtedly bolster our team's efforts as we gear up for the endurance battles ahead.

"With the enduros still on the horizon, there's plenty of preparation ahead. We'll be getting Michael and Warren behind the wheel at our test day this Thursday to ensure they're fully integrated with the team as a lot has changed since they were last with us.

“We're committed to putting our best foot forward come September and having them onboard is a significant step in that direction.”

2024 enduro line-ups: What we know so far (as of May 27, 2024)