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Davison "Absolutely" in the Championship Race

25 Oct 2013
Will Davison and Ford Performance Racing have announced a separation for 2014, but Davison insists he is well in the Championship race.
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Will Davison and Ford Performance Racing have announced a separation for 2014, but Davison insists he is well in the Championship race and will challenge for the #1 this year.

Off the back of his Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 win, Pepsi Max Crew FPR’s Mark Winterbottom’s Championship chances have been talked up, the first time 1000 winner third in the points standings.

But Davison, who comes into the ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600 fourth – just 41 points behind his teammate – says he is focusing on driving aggressively and believes the number one is well within reach.

“It is so easy to lose 150 points here and Homebush,” Davison said.

“So absolutely, it’s wide open. Obviously we have to get very good results all the way, but it’s wide open.

“Mark and I are very focused on trying to win for ourselves but also to work well together to hunt down Red Bull for the Teams Championship, that’s still well open … The pressure’s on now. We can’t afford to finish behind our rivals, so I’m sure there’s going to be some fireworks from here to the end of the year.” 

Davison was second in the day’s first practice session at the ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600 by just 0.23sec, trailing Championship leader Jamie Whincup, and said he had a good feeling with the car early. In the final session of the day, he was sixth fastest. 

“Confidence is a big thing around a track like this – obviously we’re very confident after (winning) last year, but doing all the right things so far. Early days.

“I’m in quite an aggressive mode right now, looking forward to attacking pretty hard.”

Earlier this week, motorsport legend and v8supercars.com.au columnist John Bowe called for FPR to implement team orders and start favouring Winterbottom, “… even though Will Davison will be none too pleased. Frosty needs to be given priority here,” Bowe wrote.

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“I already texted JB and said ‘what are you on mate’ so I’ve got a good relationship with him,” Davison laughed. “He’s stirring it up a bit – I think it’s a bit early days to be commenting on that.

“Forty points is absolutely nothing – I laughed when I read that!”

Four practice sessions unfolded yesterday at the tight Surfers Paradise circuit, before qualifying, the ARMOR ALL Top 10 Shootout and 300km race ahead today. This is the final event main series drivers will share the seat with co-drivers, in the race for the PIRTEK Enduro Cup. Davison is paired with Steve Owen, a previous winner at the circuit from when he paired with Whincup in 2010.

“You need to be extremely aggressive around here – and confident – to be fast,” Davison said. “There’s no way to be smooth and calm here and be fast.

“You have to be very aggressive, accurate and take risks. You’ve got to be strong in the head to make no mistakes … It’s a brutal race, but to win, a very rewarding one. I love the challenge here.

“It’s one of the hardest ones you do all year – here and Homebush. 

"I thrive on that challenge. It’s the thing that is the most rewarding in this industry – when you’ve earned it.”

Whincup has garnered 2423 points so far this season, and Red Bull Racing Australia teammate Craig Lowndes sits on 2309, Winterbottom 2281, Davison 2242 and Lockwood Racing’s Fabian Coulthard fifth on 2015.

Davison released a statement earlier in the week stating he could not yet reveal details of his plans next year. 

Tickets are still available for the ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600, and season finale the Sydney 500 for New South Wales fans.

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