Davison's unorthodox journey to 500 races

When it comes to roads to 500 Supercar races, Will Davison’s is as unorthodox as it gets.

On Saturday, Davison will become the 10th driver in ATCC/Supercars history to record 500 starts.

The 39-year-old joins Craig Lowndes, Garth Tander, Russell Ingall, Rick Kelly, Jason Bright, Mark Winterbottom, Jamie Whincup, Todd Kelly and James Courtney.

The Shell V-Power Racing Team veteran’s Supercars journey began in 2004.

Racing is in Davison’s blood; his grandfather Lex and father Richard were Australian champions, with older brother Alex also a racer.

Davison began karting at 12; with several major karting titles in tow, he moved to Formula Ford in 2000 and won the Victorian state title.

In 2001, he won the national title, winning 12 of 17 races and beating no less than Will Power and Jamie Whincup.

A career in Formula 1 was the initial ambition; Davison moved to England in 2002 and raced in the British Formula Renault Championship.

He finished fourth overall behind champion Danny Watts, Jamie Green and a young Lewis Hamilton.

He shifted to the British Formula 3 Championship in 2003 and won at Croft, but returned to Australia midway through 2004.

It was then that a touring car career came calling.

"The Supercars process began when I was still racing in the UK," Davison told Supercars.com.

"At the end of 2003, I’d been contacted by Team Dynamik; at that stage, they were doing good things.

"Oscar Fiorinotto was keen on bringing across a young bloke from the UK, in a Marcos Ambrose-type situation.

Bathurst debut, 2004 Pic: AN1 Images

"At that stage I was focused on Europe, but funding dried up towards the middle of the year.

"Within a week of being back in Australia, Oscar got me a ride day at Mallala.

"I did three laps on my own between all the rides, and they’d seen enough.

"It all came together quickly and I was thrown in the deep end."

Davison rolled out in a third Team Dynamik car at Winton, but car troubles saw the entry retired after a single lap.

It was followed by inauspicious showings at Oran Park and the enduros at Sandown and Bathurst.

"I couldn’t have been more out of my comfort zone," he said of Winton.

Davison in the white #44 at Albert Park, 2005

"I remember being around Skaife, Tander, Ambrose, guys at the top of their game.

"I was still coming to grips with having a roof over my head, an H-pattern gearbox.

"It was a baptism of fire, but I ended up in the top 10 in the wet.

"I did a clutch on the start line and didn’t even get to race!

"I later signed a two-year full-time contract, but there was a clause should I get an F1 seat."

Later in the year, Davison's childhood dream finally came true with an official test for Minardi at Misano.

From there, he sought a career in Supercars; for a time, he had it with a full-time Team Dynamik deal for 2005.

Enduros alongside Steven Johnson with DJR, 2005

He even ran in the top 10 in the 2005 Australian Grand Prix support races in a Dynamik Commodore.

However, it all went pear-shaped after a “messy" contractual drama, with a new licence going to Tony Longhurst.

There, Dick Johnson Racing scored Davison’s signature for the 2005 enduros.

DJR dusted off an older AU Falcon and gave Davison a development series run at Queensland Raceway.

At the time, Johnson labelled Davison the "most exciting young driving talent” in Supercars since Ambrose.

Davison represented Team Australia in the 2005-2006 A1 Grand Prix Series before lining up with DJR full-time in 2006.

Sitting on the Adelaide grid in 2006 as a full-time driver, for DJR no less, ensured Davison felt like he truly belonged.

Bathurst win No.1, 2009

It came after he and a young Whincup moved in together on the Gold Coast as the latter readied for his Triple Eight debut.

A Bathurst podium in 2007 and sprint victories in 2008 paved the way to a move to the Holden Racing Team.

Bathurst wins followed in 2009 and 2016, along with a number of heartbreaks.

Notably, Davison was left out of a drive mid-season in 2020 following the closure of 23Red Racing.

A smart run to second in the 2020 Great Race with Tickford saw DJR again come calling.

Come Saturday, it’s only fitting that Davison records the 500-race milestone with the team which gave him his full-time chance.

However, Davison refused to buy into the number, instead casting his mind to a maiden Darwin victory.

Perth breakthrough victory, 2022

“I got to know everyone at DJR when I did the enduros,” said Davison, who recently snapped a six-year winless drought.

“It was an exciting time in 2006; I moved in with Jamie on the Gold Coast.

“I had a lot to learn in that first year, but I understood the magnitude of it.

“James [Courtney] and I were similar in that we’d come straight in from Europe; rookies now have Super2.

“It was a challenge to get up to speed, but I showed early on I was hungry for it.

“DJR had had a pretty quiet few years to that point, but it really gained momentum in 2007.

“It was a special first three years at DJR; it paved the way to feeling like I truly belonged.

”Now I’m back here, and I’m as committed to winning for this team as I was back then."

Davison is fourth in the points after five rounds in 2022.

Purchase your Merlin Darwin Triple Crown tickets now.

Most ATCC/Supercars race starts*

*Correct to Pizza Hut Winton SuperSprint