Sandown a Meaningful Event for Davisons
Grandson of multiple Australian Grand Prix winner Lex Davison, Will Davison is determined to finish on top at the iconic Melbourne track for a second time in his grandfather's honour at the Wilson Security Sandown 500, running from September 13 - 15.
Lex Davison won the Australian Grand Prix four times in the 1950s and 1960s and now third generation race car driver Will Davison, is focussed on another victory at the track which his grandfather passed away at during a practice session in 1965.
It is also the first time Davison returns to Sandown since the death of his step-grandfather and Australia's first Formula One driver Tony Gaze.
Gaze relocated back to Melbourne from the UK with the passing of his first wife in 1976 and ultimately married Lex Davison's widow Diana, becoming step-grandfather to Will, Alex and James Davison.
Gaze, who was also a famous and highly decorated spitfire pilot in World War Two, passed peacefully away aged 93 in Melbourne recently and was honoured as one of the true Australian heroes at his memorial.
Will Davison won the Sandown 500 with Garth Tander for the Holden Racing Team in 2009 and he also holds the V8 Supercar lap record at the track.
The Pepsi Max Crew FPR driver said competing at the circuit with such a rich family history was emotional but at the same time inspirational.
"We have a huge family link with Sandown through Lex, my dad who raced here many times and will again in the Formula 5000s this year; and my brother Alex and I in V8 Supercars," Davison said.
"I never had the chance to meet my grandfather but I always feel a connection when we race at Sandown. Every time we go there I get a sense of enormous pride and emotion."
Davison is now second in the V8 Supercars Championship, only 55 points shy of leader Jamie Whincup. Just 300 points separate first to ninth ahead of the first PIRTEK Enduro Cup event.
"The Championship is really tight now, we are in a good position but we really need to have excellent results from here on out if we want to take home the title at the end of the year," he said.
"Sandown is make or break this year. There is 300 points up for grabs and with so few points separating the top ten it is really anyone's game."
The Wilson Security Sandown 500 begins the long-distance season of V8 Supercars which also includes the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and the ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600. The events combined form the PIRTEK Enduro Cup awarded to the most successful long distance driving combination.
Situated just 30 minutes from the CBD, fans will have plenty of motorsport action on and off the track with top support categories Formula 5000, V8 Utes and Touring Car Masters plus off-track entertainment including the Matt Hall aerial display, Shannon's Auto Show and more.
Mack the Transporter will return as part of the all new Disney-Pixar Fun Zone with fun additions like Monster's University, CARS 2, Toy Story and Finding Nemo. Children 12 and under receive free general admission with a paying adult.
Tickets to the Wilson Security Sandown 500 are available, as well as the Enduro Pass for all three PIRTEK Enduro Cup events.
