IT was a offer he couldn't refuse - so impressed was Michael Caruso by Team 18's set up he said had to sign up for them when offered a co-driver seat for this year's Bathurst 1000.
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Since Caruso retired from a full-time Supercars drive after the 2018 season, his signature as a co-driver has been valuable.
It was Tickford Racing who secured his services to partner Cameron Waters in the 2019 endurance rounds then Lee Holdsworth in last October's Bathurst 1000.
But when Team 18 boss Charlie Schwerkolt approached Caruso about switching camps for this season, the 37-year-old liked what he saw.
"I'm thrilled to sign a deal with Charlie to come and co-drive," Caruso said.
"When you come here and see how the team operates and the progress being made behind the scenes, it was an opportunity I couldn't refuse.
"Charlie's very motivated about his motor racing, he's been very successful in the past, he understands what it takes to achieve that success and you can see what he's building with the guys and girls here in the team that they're heading in the right direction.
"When you look at the names that are here, you've got Phil Keed and now with Richard Hollway joining, it's an amazing leadership group with Steve Henderson as team manager as well, you can see everyone in the core group gets along and I think that's a crucial part to it all."
Caruso brings plenty of experience to the team, having 15 prior Bathurst 1000 starts to his credit, which includes a third placing in 2009.
Prior to his latest Supercars assignment at Mount Panorama, he will be keeping race-fit as a full-time member of the TCR grid.
"It's really exciting to bring Michael Caruso onboard for Bathurst this year, he's a seriously talented driver and a valuable addition to our co-driver line up," Schwerkolt said.
"It's a two-year deal, which is great to have that continuity within the team, and he fits the mould as a fantastic team player.
"He's going to be a busy man between his TCR racing and completing our ride days and test days throughout the year, so his speed and race-craft will be sharp by the time we get to Bathurst."
Team 18 also confirmed that James Golding has been retained as a co-driver after he partnered Mark Winterbottom to eighth in last year's Great Race.
Like Caruso he has a regular drive - his being in the S5000 Australian Drivers' Championship - to give him seat time prior to Bathurst.
"The team's continuing to build stronger race-on-race and that's what you look for as a driver, you want to be with a team with that kind of attitude and progression," Golding said.