ADELAIDE, Australia (6 March 2016) – Nissan Motorsport V8 Supercars driver Michael Caruso leads the 2016 V8 Supercars Championship following a chaotic Clipsal 500 on the streets of Adelaide.
It is the first time that a Nissan driver has led the Australian Touring Car Championship (now V8 Supercars Championship) since Mark Skaife won the 1992 title at Oran Park 21 June 1992.
Caruso finished second in the final leg of the season-opening event, which began in scorching 36 degree heat but soon turned into a race for survival as torrential rain descended on the Adelaide Parklands street circuit, the #23 NISMO Nissan driver managing to avoid the many obstacles that had struck down the competition.
Strategy played a key part in the race, as some teams fell foul of the rule where each car must ‘drop’ 140 litre of fuel into the car during the race, which was declared after 48 laps, well short of the scheduled 78-lap distance.
Prolonged Safety Car periods and even a red flag and temporary race stoppage due to heavy rain made it one of the most unusual races in the event’s history. Standing water on the circuit and thunder and lightning in the skies were reminiscent of the rain-shortened Adelaide F1 Grands Prix 1989 and 1991.
Michael Caruso #23 NISMO Nissan
“A lot of effort has gone in over the off season to start the championship in the best way possible, and there’s no better way to finishing the weekend in the lead of the championship. A lot of credit to everyone involved, not just at the track, but also back at the factory for their hard work. Now the real hard work begins and we have to maintain these results and keep pushing hard so we can stay at the front of the field.”
CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
1. Michael Caruso…..222
2. Jamie Whincup…..207
3. Garth Tander…..202
4. Shane van Gisbergen…..197
5. Scott McLaughlin…..189
6. James Courtney…..186
7. Cameron Waters…..184
8. Todd Kelly…..181
9. Nick Percat…..171
10. Rick Kelly…..171