'It coughed at the last corner': Davison's remarkable last win
Dick Johnson Racing returnee Will Davison, who celebrated his 39th birthday on Monday, has been one of the key performers in 2021.
Davison has scored eight podiums in 19 starts so far this season, and also claimed two ARMOR ALL Pole Positions in Darwin.
Only Shane van Gisbergen and Jamie Whincup have recorded more podiums in 2021 than Davison.
However, the final hurdle for Davison has proven a race win, with his Sunday podiums in Darwin the closest he has been.
Davison is currently on the third-longest winless streak of active drivers behind James Courtney and Tim Slade.
Nearly five years and 142 races have passed since Davison last tasted victory - but it was a hell of a victory.
Then driving for Tekno Autosports, Davison claimed a remarkable Bathurst 1000 win alongside Jonathan Webb.
Of his 19 career wins - with No. 20 seemingly just around the corner - Davison’s most recent is his most dramatic, and most unlikely.
The flashpoint of the race
Often the architect of stunning come-from-behind and Lazarus-like performances, Davison - with Webb in tow - put in an epic performance in 2016 on the mountain.
It would come at the expense of friend Jamie Whincup, who was penalised over a late move after dominating much of the race.
Whincup officially led the final lap of the race, as well as 132 others with Paul Dumbrell - but the record books show Davison/Webb as the winners.
The #19 Tekno Commodore didn’t lead a lap all day, with Davison qualifying the car a lowly 17th.
Davison takes the flag - just
To date, it remains the equal eighth-lowest grid spot for an ATCC/Supercars race, and second-worst grid spot for a Bathurst winner.
The controversial incident between Whincup, Scott McLaughlin and Garth Tander left Davison the effective leader after Whincup was slapped with a time penalty.
Low on fuel, Davison was forced to hold off Shane Van Gisbergen in the final laps of the race.
The end margin? Just 0.1434 seconds. It remains the closest ever competitive Bathurst finish, sandwiched by the form finishes in 1977 and 2010.
'It coughed at the last corner, I ran out of fuel'
Such was the tension that co-driver and team owner Webb couldn’t watch in the last laps.
It was a race of two halves; it ran green for 92 laps, but the second half featured crashes, passes and penalties in an enthralling climax.
To date, it remains Davison’s most recent win - but one few would forget.
“I’m honestly speechless, I’m not going to give much here because that was so stressful,” said an exhausted Davison.
Davison won Bathurst in 2009 with Tander and HRT
“It coughed at the last corner, I ran out of fuel as I crossed the line. Started 17th, I knew we were quick.”
It was Davison’s second Bathurst win, his first coming alongside Garth Tander for the Holden Racing Team in 2009.
That day, he was Tander’s wingman, despite beating the 2007 champion in the points standings.
In 2016, Davison was a proven winner, and had already broken through for Tekno in a Tasmania stunner.
Davison has claimed eight podiums in 2021
For Webb, it was redemption after he and van Gisbergen were cruelly denied late in 2014.
“Unbelievable… we were so close in 14,” said Webb, who won the Bathurst 12 Hour earlier in the year.
“I was out the back just playing with my kid trying to ignore what was going on.
“It’s unbelievable, it’s just amazing.”
Only 20 drivers in ATCC/Supercars history have won more races than Davison’s 19.
Can he make it 20 when the 2021 Repco Supercars Championship resumes?
