Michael Caruso has been left lost for words after being denied victory in heartbreaking fashion at round five of the TCR Australia Championship at Queensland Raceway.
The AutoGlym backed Alfa Romeo has had a tumultuous campaign and race two in Queensland looked certain to be the breakthrough Caruso and the Ashley Seward Motorsport team needed.
After qualifying in 10th, Caruso was turned at the second corner and relegated to last. A Safety Car intervention allowed him to catch the field and a last gasp pass to reclaim 12th earned him reverse grid pole after post-race penalties were handed out.
The Alfa Romeo hasn’t looked like the fastest car at many times this season, but in race two Caruso was flying. After fending off an early charge from behind Caruso went to work and extended his lead to over 3 seconds, consistently lapping as the fastest car on track.
Smoke began to appear from the rear of the Alfa Romeo with about six laps to go, but the car and Caruso maintained pace despite temperature warnings lighting up the dashboard. Until lap 19 of 21, when the engine cut out and Caruso was left stranded in the middle of the Queensland Raceway venue.
The heartbreaking loss isn’t the first time the Caruso/ASM pairing has been taken out of the running while leading. At Phillip Island earlier this year Caruso was leading after starting on pole before being turned around entering the hairpin.
The Alfa Romeo required a complete engine change, and by the time the ASM squad received the car they had less than three hours to execute the lengthy process. Ultimately the team fell roughly five minutes short, by the estimate of Team Owner Ash Seward, of making the start from pit lane for race three.
When approached for quotes after the event, Caruso didn’t have much to say.
“There’s nothing I can say really, I’m lost for words,” said Caruso.
After the race, speaking to TV, Caruso had heralded the support of his 2022 sponsors.
“I’ve been fortunate to have some success in my career so really I just feel for our great backers, AutoGlym, Robson and Timken they’ve been fantastic supporters and they deserve some reward on the racetrack.”
The next round of TCR Australia will take place at Sandown Raceway from September 16-18.