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Davison: Sandown wasn't the tipping point

11 Sep 2014
Star driver felt team choices cost him the race last year - but emphasises it didn't fuel his desire to contest 2014 with Erebus.
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While it seemed cracks started to form between Will Davison and Ford Performance Racing this time last year, the star driver insists a disagreeable team call at Sandown did not lead to his decision to sign with Erebus Motorsport for 2014.

While this year at Erebus they are looking for a podium finish, last year Sandown also meant fighting for the Championship lead for Davison. He felt deserving of it - while leader Jamie Whincup believed he shouldn't have been at the top.

But it came unstuck on race day, when Ford Performance Racing decided to double stack the Falcon Davison shared with Steve Owen behind teammates Mark Winterbottom/Steve Richards in pit lane, despite the #5 running a weaker strategy after a start line error from Richards.

While the #6 was able to fight back up to third, Davison was incredibly vocal about the team's decision to double stack post-race. At the time, parallels between his public disappointment with the team and still unsigned contract to remain there were drawn.

However, one year on Davison emphasises the Sandown showing was not the reason behind his move to Erebus - and that the situation was wildly blown out of proportion.

"That side of things was completely blown up," Davison told v8supercars.com.au.

"It was disappointing, circumstantial, there was no malice in it and certainly had nothing to do with my decision really ... we had progressed a long way with my decision anyway."

He still feels that he and Owen paid the ultimate price for the team's bad call, though.

"At the end of the day they lost the Sandown 500 because of it. We should've easily won that race, there's no doubt about that."Queuing is part of V8s, I wasn't unhappy about queuing - when you're actually behind your teammate it's fine ... but the positions should've been swapped. Any other team would've done that - Triple Eight, knowing their lead car would've had the risk of having its race ruined.

"Wouldn't have, probably shouldn't have done that, but that's the way it goes. We still got back up to third.

"It's very difficult out there as a driver, in the heat of the moment, a lot going on so as I said, that was full on. It was at a time when big decisions had to be made - but I wouldn't say in any way that tipped me over the edge.

"You're silly to think that upper management has gotten involved and tried to create a situation like that, absolutely no way. I always got really well supported there.

"That team is the way it is, I have good memories there, but certainly happy now and happy with my decision - and I know soon that will be verified with results. I'm happy, now the next step's obviously challenging and bit by bit, we will get there."

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While he endured a monster crash at Sandown Raceway back in 2010, Davison thinks of the track fondly - a place steeped in history, and family history at that.

So it is fitting he will pair up with brother Alex to contest the first of the Pirtek Enduro Cup races there (Will and Alex pictured as kids below - visit the Erebus Motorsport website for more family pics and the story of their family history).

"I always look forward to the enduros regardless, but particularly this year with Alex.

"I think we can be quite competitive there. Very excited. I'm excited for every race with this team - good weekends and bad, we enjoy ourselves and work well together."

Davison personally feels he has mostly had good results at the circuit, and while it is his first year contesting the 500 with Erebus, the team recorded its best result for 2013 at the circuit, a fourth place finish courtesy of Lee Holdsworth and Craig Baird.

"Sandown all in all, it has been a pretty good place for me," Davison said.

"I've always seemed competitive there through 2007, '08 we were competitive, 2009 we had the double pole and win with HRT, 2010 accident.

"I was always quick there at FPR, I had the pole there in 2012 Sandown 500, original pole, last year pole for Sandown 500 and third.

"I always seemed to gel well with the place and it's got a lot of history. I love the history of the place - and my family has had a bit to do with the history of the place, but its one of those really special places and the history is part of my family, so I love going there.

"It's a symbolic place, a lot of memories as a kid going there. I seem to gel well with the circuit and I'm hopeful our car will put on a good showing.

"It's something I really want to do with my brother - we can only do what we can do, but I think it will be hopefully one of our better circuits. Hoping we can just do the maximum, both of us."

The Wilson Security Sandown 500 begins tomorrow.

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