Luff joins Team 18 for endurance events

Team 18 has signed Warren Luff to partner Scott Pye for the 2023 Supercars endurance events at Sandown and Bathurst.

Pye and Luff have previously teamed up for the Great Race three times, which included back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2017 and 2018.

Luff heads to Team 18 on loan from Walkinshaw Andretti United, with the latter reuniting former winners Chaz Mostert and Lee Holdsworth with plans for a wildcard entry led by Luff failing to materialise.

Team 18 also confirmed Michael Caruso will remain alongside Mark Winterbottom.

“I am thrilled to be reuniting with Scott Pye as his co-driver at Team 18 for Sandown and Bathurst this year,” said Luff.

“We have great history together from our three years at Walkinshaw, and have great memories from the back-to-pack podiums in 2017 and 2018.

“I’d like to extend my thanks to everyone at Walkinshaw Andretti United for loaning me out to Team 18 for the enduros. It’s great to have their support to stay on the grid and I appreciate the chance to compete with Team 18 at these iconic events.

“Charlie and I go way back to the DJR days in 2009 and 2010 when I teamed up with JC [James Courtney], so it’s great to reunite with him as well. I’ve got a lot of respect of him, he’s built a really strong outfit that’s been getting better year on year.

“I can’t wait to get stuck in to our preparations for Sandown and Bathurst and we’ll be sure to put our best foot forward when enduro season comes around.”

Pye added: “I’m pumped to have ‘Luffy’ onboard for the enduro races this year.

“We’ve obviously got a good history together at Bathurst in particular. I have a lot of faith in his ability and when he is in the car I feel very confident that he’s the man for the job. I’m so excited to have him on board and I think for the whole team it’s a great opportunity.

“Luffy is certainly one of my good friends and I guess that relationship began when we were first co-drivers and he’s a guy that’s loved up and down pit lane.

“You can’t not get along with Luffy, he’s certainly become a good friend of mine and so it’s exciting to go to Bathurst and do that race with a mate and feel like you have the potential of standing on the top step is very special.

“Having Luffy signed away now is a huge confidence boost and I think for us it’s a great opportunity to get a result at both Sandown and Bathurst.

“For Luffy, I think Sandown is a great opportunity to get some miles as well in a race format before Bathurst in this new car, because for every co-driver it’s going to be a whole new challenge, but with Luffy’s background driving so many different types of cars, I think he’s someone that can adapt extremely quickly to the conditions, so I think he’s a great get for the team.

“For me, I’ve got a lot of confidence in his ability jumping into something that’s unfamiliar and being able to deliver.”