Valvoline’s association with motorsport sponsorship is part of its heritage. Winning racers have relied on Valvoline since the first race in the USA, in Chicago in 1895. It’s on the race track where Valvoline delivers its promise of high performance. Valvoline has a strong presence in national and international motorsport events.

Meet the Valvoline GRM V8 Supercar Drivers:

	Michael Caruso Date of Birth: 25/05/1983 Birth Place: Sydney Lives: Melbourne Hobbies: Soccer, Football, Cross Dressing Girlfriend: Danielle Nickname: Robbo

V8 Supercars:

Debut	2006 Bathurst, Team BOC. (Bathurst only)
2007	WPS Racing (enduro’s only – finished 15th at Bathurst with Grant Denyer)
2008	Garry Rogers Motorsport

Michael was born and bred on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. He attended Cromer High School and was heavily involved in soccer before the opportunity for racing came along.

His father raced Sports Sedans and was also a mechanic for the legendary Kevin Bartlett during his Formula 5000 days and later in the famous Channel 9 Camaro era.

Michael started his racing career in carting at the age of 12 before progressing through Formula Fords and Formula Threes and winning the Championship in the latter in 2003.

In 2004 Michael joined the Holden Young Lions outfit in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar series for a handful of races. His racing career stalled for a few seasons before bouncing back into the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series with a Falcon in 2006 winning the Privateers Cup.

In 2007 he won three rounds of the Fujitsu Development Series and finished second to Tony D’Alberto in the title chase.

Before deciding on Caruso, Garry explored the pool of potential drivers from both Australia and overseas, choosing Caruso "not just on his driving ability but also on his manner and commitment."

Garry’s quote :

Michael’s V8 Supercar experience has been quite successful despite the limited opportunities he has been given.

“His early days in Carting and Formula Three have given him a very good understanding of vehicle set up. During Michael’s Formula Three period, Kevin Bartlett, whose engineering and vehicle set up could be considered one of the best in Australia, helped Caruso enormously. The knowledge he gained during this time, coupled with his personal commitment and mannerisms make me believe that he has the necessary substance to be successful and overcome any obstacles that may arise.”

	Lee Holdsworth Date of Birth: 02/02/1983 Birth Place: Melbourne, Vic Lives: Melbourne, Vic Hobbies: Rugby, motorsport Personal: Single Nickname: Lethal Height: 170 cm Weight: 72 kg

Just 25 years of age and the youngest full-time driver in the championship, Holdsworth has carved his way into the V8 Supercar category after beginning in go kart racing at the age of seven at Ipswich Kart Club.

Moving into car racing in the Commodore Cup series in 2001, Holdsworth quickly showed the sort of talent that has landed him a drive with Garry Rogers Motorsport. He finished in the top five in the championship in 2002 and 2003 and made the step up to driving a V8 Supercar for Smiths Trucks Racing in the V8 Development Series. In his very first event at a wet Wakefield Park he impressed many by finishing sixth and would go on to win a reverse grid race at Eastern Creek.

His form during the season meant he was a part of the team for the endurance events at Sandown and Bathurst, though a fire at Sandown and crash at Bathurst left the team non finishers on both occasions.

Keen to further enhance and develop his mechanical setup knowledge, Lee drove in the Australian Formula Ford Championship in 2005 in addition to selected rounds of the V8 Development Series, again for the Smiths Trucks team.

It was his solid results in his infrequent appearances in the V8 Supercar that drew the attention of GRM team boss Garry Rogers, who signed the youngster to drive in the endurance events alongside Phil Scifleet. Holdsworth was invited back to drive in the series finale at Phillip Island before being signed on a full-time basis for Garry Rogers Motorsport in 2006.

To find out more about Dean Canto, Lee Holdworth and the rest of the crew, check out the Garry Rogers Motorsport official website.

Meet Valvoline’s Sprintcar Driver, Max Dumesny:

	Max Dumesny Date of Birth: 12/07/1959 Birth Place: Nullawarre, Vic Lives: Nelson, NSW Married: 21 years to Melinda Children: Mitchell, Michaela, Matthew and Marcus Other Events: Dirt bikes, Formula 500’s, Sprintcars, NASCAR, V8 Supercars Best race: 1990 Race of States – Knoxville USA

Dumesny began his career in sprintcar racing in 1982, finishing third in his first feature race at Premier Speedway at Warrnambool.

Sweet success soon followed when in 1984 he won the Victorian Title, the South Australian Title, King of Clay Series and all Sprintcar races on the card at Parramatta C.S. Due to his success, he was contracted by Victorian Sprintcar engineer John Sidney.

In 1985, Dumesny raced for Bob Trostle, winning the prestigious “Race of States” at the USA Knoxville Nationals.

We could keep going as to how many championships Dumesny has won between 1985 and today, but we wouldn't have enough room to write it all!

2002 proved to be a great year for Dumesny. Coming first in the World Series Sprintcar Series, Victorian Title, South Australian Title, Australian Title, Sprintcar Stampede and Sprintcar masters. He was also named Driver of the Year in the Knoxville Hall of Fame in 2001 as a result of a record season winning 17 main events! In 2003, Dumesny was placed 1st in the XXXX National Open and 3rd in the World Series Sprintcar Series.

To find out more about Max Dumesny and the rest of the crew, check out the Max Dumesny Motorsport official website.