Brothers Will and Alex Davison will drive together for the first time in this year’s Pirtek Enduro Cup, for Erebus Motorsport.
The Davisons, who have previously raced in the same V8 Supercars team but never before as co-drivers, will continue their family’s steep motor racing traditions when they team up in the #9 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG at this year’s endurance events at the Wilson Security Sandown 500, Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and the Gold Coast 600.
The pairing of the Davison duo is just the second time in V8 Supercars history two brothers have joined forces as co-drivers, following on from Todd and Rick Kelly in 2006.
The Davisons said it had been a lifelong dream to drive together as they continue to follow in the footsteps of their father Richard, who was a Formula 2 championship winner in the early 1980s, and their famous grandfather Lex, who won the Australian Grand Prix four times in the late 1950s.
“It definitely makes dad’s job a bit easier,’’ joked Will, the younger of the duo at 31 years of age.
“Certainly the family is incredibly proud, it’s something you dream of to be able to stand on a podium together and it’s not every day you get this chance.
“We’ll push each other and support each other – it’s going to be a lot of fun.’’
Speaking of his family’s reaction to the appointment, 34-year-old Alex laughed: “They’ll be proud if we do well, if we’re wobbling around down the back of the field, they won’t be very proud.’’
“Obviously we started out racing karts and did that together as a family, travelled to all the races. We’ve supported each other all through our careers but have never had the opportunity to share a car together.
“The way it worked out, it wasn’t planned by either of us, but it was a good option that presented itself from both sides and the fact that we are driving together is a bonus, it will be good fun.’’
Erebus Motorsport Team Manager David Stuart has had a long association with both drivers in the past and said the Davison duo would form a strong combination for the long-distance classics.
“It’s a real thrill for me to have Alex join Will for the Pirtek Enduro Cup. They are both very accomplished drivers and we should be a real chance of achieving some positive results throughout the series,’’ said Stuart.
“With Alex missing out on a full-time drive in the V8 Supercars Championship this year, it afforded us the opportunity to have him partner Will for the endurance events.
“Coming off the back of the team’s fifth placing in last year’s Pirtek Enduro Cup combined with our strong start to 2014, we look forward to progressing with our development and challenging for results when the endurance events start in September.’’
Will has enjoyed an encouraging start since joining Erebus Motorsport this season, with five top 10 finishes from the first nine races of the year, while Alex finished 13th in the V8 Supercars Championship last year.
Alex, a former Carrera Cup Champion, previously raced for Stone Brothers Racing for three years from 2009 to 2011 prior to the team’s switch to Erebus Motorsport at the end of the 2012 season.
“I had a really good relationship with everyone in the Stone Brothers days when I was driving here and most of the guys are still here,’’ reflected Alex.
“It’s great catching up with a lot of my old friends and it feels like I never left, it’s literally feels like it was only yesterday.
“Janelle Navarro, who was one of my mechanics last year, she’s in the team as well so that part of it is fantastic because I don’t have to re-learn a new team like you often do when you join a team for the first time.’’
Despite being the older of the Davison duo, Alex said he admired what his younger brother had achieved in V8 Supercars and was out to learn as much as he could from Will when they team together.
“I’m just the lackey this time around, I’m just the co-driver,’’ joked Alex.
“Will’s got a CV that lots of people would love to have – I’d love to have his CV. He’s done lots of cool stuff and particularly in V8 Supercars, he’s been ultra-successful and done everything bar win the championship.
“He’s definitely up there in the top two or three guys in the championship and he’s had a lot more consistency and success in V8 Supercars than I have, so I’m in a position where I will be trying to learn as much as possible during the year.’’
Will said he believed Alex deserved a regular drive in the V8 Supercars series based on his career achievements to date.
“Obviously Alex has done some cool stuff internationally with the GT side of things, which many people dream of doing,’’ said Will.
“He’s been successful in V8s, it’s just circumstantial the way these things unfold, why you’re not on the grid, and continuity is really important.
“Anyone that has had pole positions and podiums, which he did late last year, should be on the grid.
“No doubt I think we bounce off each other, we learn off each other all the time and we know each other better than anyone else.’’
