25 best Supercars drivers since 2000: #16 Will Davison
As 2025 gets underway, Supercars.com is ranking the top 25 drivers of the last 25 years, continuing with Will Davison, who comes in as our #16.
The epitome of the modern day professional racing driver, Will Davison has been a constant presence at the pointy end of the Supercars field for well over a decade.
Having been on the verge of breaking into Formula One with Minardi in 2004, Davison returned to Australia later that year to take up an ill-fated seat with Team Dynamik that came with a promise of a full-time drive in 2005.
When that didn't materialise, Dick Johnson Racing threw him a lifeline, with the third-generation racer becoming a race winner at the team before joining the Holden Racing Team in 2009.
In the years since, Davison has been fighting with some of the best to ever do it more often than not, and has the numbers to back up his standing as a dependable driver.
Will Davison's key stats since 2000
Years active: 2004-present
Rounds: 257
Races: 570
Best championship position: 2nd (2009)
Best finish: 1st (22 wins)
Top three finishes: 83
Best start: 1st (29 pole positions)
Best Bathurst result: 1st (2009, 2016)
The highlight
Two Bathurst wins are the clear highlight in Davison's Supercars career, however it's the latter of his two wins at Mount Panorama that stands out in one of the most dramatic Bathurst finishes of all-time in 2016.
Having joined Tekno Autosports after a frustrating stint with uncompetitive Mercedes machinery at Erebus, Davison had tasted victory in Tasmania earlier in the year, but could only muster 17th in qualifying.
Alongside team owner Jonathon Webb, Davison carved his way through the field to be in the prime position to capitalise on the infamous collision between Jamie Whincup, Garth Tander, and Scott McLaughlin.
With Whincup slugged with 15 seconds post-race, all eyes turned to the battle behind, with Davison left to fend a flying Shane van Gisbergen, who had left Tekno to join Triple Eight.
Davison used all of his experience and racing nous to fend off the flying Kiwi whilst also battling to stretch his fuel to make it to the finish.
Davison coughed as he crossed the finish line, with the 0.1434s margin remaining the closest competitive finish in the history of the Bathurst 1000.
Why we picked him
Since his breakout season in 2008 with DJR, whenever Davison has had competitive machinery underneath him, he has made the most of it and been a fixture at the front of the field.
Davison is also one of a handful of drivers to have driven for factory teams on both sides of the Ford and Holden divide, having successful stints at the Holden Racing Team in 2009 and 2010, and Ford Performance Racing from 2011-2013.
When he has had the opportunity to do so, Davison has proven to be a match for some of the most legendary names in the sport such as Whincup, Lowndes, Winterbottom, and van Gisbergen to name but a few.
Much in the ilk of Australian Grand Prix-winning grandfather Lex Davison, Will has garnered a reputation as a clean racer on track, but that doesn't mean he is one to take a backwards step, with some iconic defensive drives among his career highlights.
The views in this article do not necessarily express the opinions of Supercars, teams or drivers.
