'That's just a fact': Davison set to play Finals rear gunner for Kostecki

Will Davison wants a strong run at Bathurst to “salvage” a brilliant result from his tough season, before he prepares to assist teammate Brodie Kostecki’s Finals campaign.

The 2025 Repco Supercars Championship hasn’t been kind to Davison, who heads to the Repco Bathurst 1000 in 17th overall, his lowest pre-Bathurst championship position since his full-time debut in 2006.

In 18 previous full seasons, Davison headed to Bathurst 10th or better 12 times, and sixth or better six times.

Additionally, for the first time since 2012, Davison heads to Bathurst trailing a direct teammate in the championship. He was the sole Tekno Autosports driver in 2016-17, was a Tickford Racing satellite driver in 2018-19, and was part of a mid-season shuffle in 2020 amid the effects of COVID-19.

With 10th position 267 points up the road, Davison is all but certain to miss out on The Finals. However, already a two-time Bathurst 1000 winner, Davison is well and truly determined to right the wrongs of his season on the biggest day of the year.

"I'm long gone for The Finals dream,” Davison admitted on the Drivers Only podcast.

When asked if there have been talks over Finals tactics, Davison replied: "Not directly. It obviously comes up in conversation and not exactly how would you play tactics, but of course it's after Bathurst.”

Davison won the 2009 and 2016 races, and also finished on the podium in 2007 and 2020. Co-driver Tony D'Alberto finished third with the team in 2017 and 2023, and has his own point to prove after copping a costly drive-through penalty at The Bend over a pit lane speed breach.

DJR has swung the changes to get the #17 Ford back in the game, wheeling out a chassis from Bathurst's National Motor Racing Museum for the upcoming Great Race.

While Bathurst is his immediate priority, Davison knows he will have a vital role to play for teammate Kostecki, who will fight for the championship in The Finals.

“That's the one event where I can salvage some goodness out of my year that's been challenging, and that's the beauty of Bathurst,” said Davison, a 22-time race winner.

"It's very unlike me that I'm not in the 10 at this time of the year — we won't go into my season — but we know the potential's still strong.

"But anything but excellence at this stage in all elements of your car and your preparation just doesn't cut it. The depth is so high. I've had rounds this year where on the front row and qualifying well, so we know when it all clicks you can be there.

"It's very much a car orientated sport at the moment. The cars are so, so sensitive. So I'm just going there guns blazing, nothing to lose, trying to be in amongst the action at Bathurst.

"But after that is when these talks are gonna take place. If you've got teammates in that 10, you are going to become a number two. That's just a fact. What that means, I don't know, but of course you're going do what you can to help your teammate in any way."

Track action at the Repco Bathurst 1000 commences on Thursday October 9.