Davison: Team heart and soul 'definitely DJR'

Much has changed since he left Dick Johnson Racing at the end of 2008, but Will Davison believes the iconic team still "bleeds" its heart and soul.

Davison has returned to the team he drove for on a full-time basis between 2006 and 2008, joining Anton De Pasquale in an all-new driver line-up.

Between 2009 and 2020, Davison drove for the Holden Racing Team, Ford Performance Racing, Erebus Motorsport, Tekno Autosports and 23Red Racing out of the Tickford Racing stable.

In that time, he won the Bathurst 1000 twice, and claimed 17 race victories.

However, his story began with DJR, winning his maiden championship race with the team in Sydney.

Last Friday, Davison got behind the wheel of his new Shell V-Power Racing Mustang at official pre-season testing, having enjoyed a long summer reacquainting himself with the team.

"The heart and soul's definitely DJR," he he told Chad Neylon reporting for Supercars.com.

"It can't not when DJ's the head of this place.

"It's got a certain soul and aura about it, whether it be through the fans, whether it be through some of the familiar staff that are still here.

"Whether it's the general aura about the team… I don't know, there's something about it."

DJR itself underwent major changes following Davison's initial departure, with the team re-emerging as a championship force following investment by Team Penske.

Between 2017 and 2020, the team won over 50 races and claimed multiple drivers' and teams' championships.

Davison left DJR as a 26-year-old, and returns as a veteran 38-year-old, and still feels like his best driving is yet to come.

For the 19-time race winner, there's no better place to continue his quest to clinch an elusive championship.

"It still well and truly feels like DJR," he continued.

"There are a lot of other staff members here from my days are Erebus.

"It's a combo of a lot of familiar faces for me.

"Of course things have changed, but it absolutely bleeds DJR."

Davison completed 90 laps of Queensland Raceway in testing, getting to know his new Mustang and form a working discourse with race engineer Richard Harris.

While the weather plagued teams' chances of a full day of learning in Ipswich, Davison was delighted to tick several boxes ahead of the season-opener at Bathurst.

"We had a little bit of everything thrown in the mix, overall very happy to get the day done and dusted," he said.

"Quite a tricky day, conditions wise. Quite hot here, quite windy. We had a lot of items to test, a lot of things to tick off.

"We got through most of it, which is good. I've been counting down the days to get behind the wheel of this car and work with the team.

"That's what today was all about; working with one another, throwing a million and one things at the car and seeing how it reacted.

"Certainly feeling the potential of the car. I loved driving it. Feeling really good about the work we got done today."

Davison will make his competitive DJR return at the Repco Mt Panorama 500. Tickets are on sale now.