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Anthony Davidson Davidson in 2007 Nationality British Formula One World Championship career Active years 2002, 2005, 2007–2008 Teams Minardi, BAR, Super Aguri Races 24 Championships 0 Wins 0 Podiums 0 Career points 0 Pole positions 0 Fastest laps 0 First race 2002 Hungarian Grand Prix Last race 2008 Spanish Grand Prix 24 Hours of Le Mans career Participating years 2009 Teams Aston Martin Racing Best finish 13th Class wins 0

Anthony Denis Davidson (born 18 April 1979) is a British Formula One racing driver from England, born in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. He has raced for Minardi, Super Aguri and been a test and / or reserve driver for the British American Racing, Honda and Brawn GP teams. He is currently a commentator for BBC's Radio 5 Live Formula One coverage,^[1]

Career

Davidson began kart racing in 1987, competing in various British, European and North American championships. He won three British championships (93, 94, 95), one Italian championship and was runner-up in the Formula A European championship in 1996. In 1999, he moved to single seater cars, racing Formula Fords and winning the 1600 cc Kent engine class of the British Formula Ford festival that year.^[2] The following season, he was runner-up in the British Formula Ford championship but did win the blue riband Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch and scooped the McLaren/Autosport Young Driver of the Year Award.^[2]

In 2001, Davidson competed in the British Formula Three championship with the Carlin team, finishing second overall to teammate Takuma Sato. His performance improved throughout the season and he outscored Sato from June until the season's end. He also won the Formula Three Pau Grand Prix, the Spa Masters^[2] and the FIA European Cup.

Formula One

BAR and Minardi

In late 2000, Davidson became the test driver for the British American Racing (BAR) Formula One team for the 2001 season.^[3] The following season Davidson started two races for the small Minardi team, temporarily replacing regular driver Alex Yoong, who the team had decided to suspend after he had failed to qualify for three races. Minardi had originally planned to put Justin Wilson in the car, but he proved too tall.^[4] Davidson's qualifying times were within 0.6s of teammate Mark Webber at his two starts in Hungary and Belgium, but he spun out of both events.^[2]

He was not given a chance to race in 2003 and remained as test driver at BAR alongside Takuma Sato. When Sato was promoted to the race team following the departure of Jacques Villeneuve, it presented Davidson with the opportunity to become third driver.^[2] This was especially useful in 2004 as BAR were able to run a third car in Friday morning testing, which became Davidson's duty. He frequently impressed with his pace, although some have questioned the validity of these times as a raw indicator due to the lack of need to conserve the car in the way race drivers Sato and Jenson Button did.^{[citation needed]}

In November 2004, BAR announced that it had failed to come to an acceptable contractual agreement with the Williams team to allow Davidson to drive for Williams in 2005 because Williams would not agree to his unconditional "repatriation" to BAR in 2006.^{[citation needed]} Given BAR's long-term contract on Davidson, his chance of securing a race seat for 2005 was therefore called into serious doubt. He was given the opportunity to fill in for an unwell Sato at the 2005 Malaysian Grand Prix, but his engine expired just two laps into the event.

Honda

Davidson as Honda's third driver at the 2006 United States Grand Prix.

In 2006 Davidson resumed his role as test driver for BAR, now owned by Honda and renamed Honda Racing F1. As BAR had failed to be one of the top four constructors the previous season Honda were able to run a third car on Friday, giving Davidson a bigger role than in 2005. Having previously done some radio commentary work for BBC Radio 5 Live, in 2006 he made his debut as a television commentator, standing in for the absent Martin Brundle for ITV Sport at the Hungarian Grand Prix, which was won by Jenson Button and the Honda team. In 2008 Davidson returned to Honda as test driver for the testing at Spain's Circuit de Catalunya whilst Honda test driver Alexander Wurz was racing at Le Mans.^[5]

Super Aguri

Davidson driving for Super Aguri at the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix.

On November 15, 2006, Super Aguri confirmed that Davidson would partner Takuma Sato for the 2007 Formula One season.^[6] Thus, he became a regular Formula One driver for the first time.

At the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix Davidson was running third when his car struck a groundhog on the straight before the pits, ultimately putting him back to 11th place and ending his bid for his first career points. At the Hungarian Grand Prix Davidson's rear suspension was broken during a collision with Giancarlo Fisichella, which forced him to retire. Davidson finished the season in 23rd place having scored no points.

Davidson driving for Super Aguri at the 2008 Malaysian Grand Prix.

Amid financial problems which threatened their continued participation in Formula One, Super Aguri retained Davidson alongside team-mate Sato for 2008. However, on 6 May 2008 Super Aguri withdrew from the Championship leaving Davidson without a race seat.

24 Hours of Le Mans

Davidson raced for the Aston Martin Racing team in the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans, alongside Darren Turner and Jos Verstappen. His team drove Lola-Aston Martin B09/60 in the LMP1 class, which finished 13th overall in the race. He will return to the race in 2010, driving for defending champions Team Peugeot Total alongside Alexander Wurz and Marc Gené.^[7]

Commentating

He has since been heard as a co-commentator on selected Grands Prix for BBC Radio 5 Live. This became permanent on February 13, 2009 when it was announced he would commentate alongside David Croft for the 2009 season.^[1] Davidson will continue in the role in 2010, as the BBC decided on an unchanged lineup for its Formula One coverage on both TV and radio.^[8]

Future

Davidson has expressed his desire to return to Formula One during his commentary duties, and was linked with incoming teams Virgin and Lotus ^[9]. However, he was unable to obtain a racing position on any of the teams for the 2010 season.

Personal life

On 11 August 2006, Davidson married his girlfriend Carrie in Banbury, Oxfordshire. The couple live in Brackley. His brother Andrew Davidson appeared in the first series of Big Brother in the UK.

Racing record

Career summary

Complete Formula One results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

References

External links

• www.anthonydavidson.com
• Anthony Davidson profile and statistics
• Career statistics pre F1 and F1 career
• F1Fanatic Who's Who: Anthony Davidson

Super Aguri F1 Personnel: Aguri Suzuki | Mark Preston | Daniele Audetto Drivers: Takuma Sato | Anthony Davidson | Yuji Ide | Franck Montagny | Sakon Yamamoto Formula One cars: SA05 | SA06 | SA07 | SA08