Alex Davison locks in four-event LDM deal

Alex Davison will remain with Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport for this weekend’s Red Rooster Sydney SuperSprint and the entire PIRTEK Enduro Cup.

Team owner Lucas Dumbrell has confirmed the news to Supercars.com, stressing a desire for continuity after a series of driver changes during the year to date.

LDM had hoped to retain Cameron McConville from Hidden Valley onwards, but a slew of other commitments saw the veteran stand down ahead of Townsville.

Aaren Russell stepped into the #3 entry in Townsville as part of a three-event deal that will also see him drive at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and Coates Hire Newcastle 500.

A full-timer in the Carrera Cup, Davison joined the team last time out at Ipswich and will continue to race the #3 Holden this weekend at Sydney Motorsport Park.

He is also guaranteed to do the three-event PIRTEK Enduro Cup, although which of the two team cars he ends up in for the two-driver races is yet to be confirmed.

“After Ipswich I discussed it with Phil (Munday, team sponsor) and we decided that having some continuity was only going to be a good thing,” Dumbrell told Supercars.com.

“Alex is a very experienced enduro driver and it’s pleasing for us to have that locked away sooner rather than later.

Davison returned to Supercars at Ipswich

“Ipswich was difficult for him having not been in a Supercar for a few years and the cars obviously weren’t amazing there either.

“But he was only a couple of tenths away from being right amongst it so with a bit more time in the car I think he’ll be right.

“He brings a lot to the team in general with his experience, which is a big help to Alex (17-year-old team-mate Rullo).”

Gold Coast-based Davison visited LDM’s Melbourne workshop last Thursday in preparation for his return to the car at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Qualifying on the back-row for both races and picking up two 26th place finishes at Ipswich, Davison is nonetheless excited to be back on the grid for the year’s biggest races.

Missing out on an enduro drive last year, Davison had feared that being on the sidelines again in 2017 may have spelt the end of his Supercars career.

“If there was a possibility to do the endurance races this year it was important for me to take it to keep my name out there,” Davison told Supercars.com.

“Obviously missing out last year was not ideal and the opportunity to do two sprint rounds before the endurance races is very beneficial.

Davison will do double duties at three events

“It feels a little bit weird coming into what is effectively a full-time drive midway through the season.

“At Ipswich I didn’t really feel part of the grid, but I’m hoping at SMP we can take a little step forward and get off the back row.

“I went and saw the team last Thursday and did the normal debrief and pre-brief, but also to work on a few of the ergonomics issues.

“I wasn’t very comfortable in the car at Ipswich and the 200km race is long enough that if you’re not quite right it’s very hard.”

Davison says he’s also available for Pukekohe – which is the only event between the enduros and Russell’s drive at Newcastle – but a deal for New Zealand is not currently in place.

The Sandown, Bathurst and Gold Coast PIRTEK Enduro Cup events will be particularly busy for Davison as the Carrera Cup Australia is also racing at each of the three meetings.

David Wall is currently the only other driver confirmed for double-duties, with the Porsche points leader to line-up alongside Rick Kelly at Nissan Motorsport.