James Davison Signs Team Australia Atlantic Deal

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October 23, 2005 - Team Australia has continued its commitment to fostering local Australian talent with the announcement that James Davison will be racing in the Champ Car Atlantic Series in North America in 2006.

Davison, 19, will drive for Team Australia after impressing team owners Derrick Walker, Craig Gore and John Fish with a quick and controlled display of driving while testing for the team in Phoenix recently and by his efforts in the US Formula BMW Series this season.

Davison proved himself a potential champion of the future at the United States Grand Prix weekend in Indianapolis earlier this year, when he became the second Australian ever to win a race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (ironically his cousin Alex Davison won the Porsche SuperCup race there in 2002) and the first to win a race in an open-wheel car.

Davison is the first driver to be announced for the two-car Team Australia Atlantic program and will contest the new look series that will also reward the winner of the 2006 title with a bonus $US2 million to help pay for a ride in the Champ Car World Series in 2007.

"I want to thank Craig, Derrick and John for giving me the opportunity to provide me with a full-time ride in the Champ Car Atlantics Series next year," said Davison.

"It has been a dream of mine to race in the Champ Car World Series and now I am one step closer and I am looking forward to the challenge.”

"There are more realistic opportunities in the US compared to Europe and I like the American philosophy of motor racing.”

"When Team Australia first entered into Champ Car it was very exciting. It is the concept Australian motor sport has been crying out for."

Gore welcomed Davison into the Team Australia family and with three cars entered at this weekend's Lexmark Indy 300, was happy that the second phase of the team's motorsport vision could be announced in front of a home audience.

"We see Atlantics as the important "middle" step for any young driver wanting to make it to the top in this sport. Therefore the series is an important part of the Team Australia commitment to developing young talent," said Gore.


"And this is what Team Australia is all about, giving young Australians the opportunity to challenge the world's best on an international stage and we think James has what it takes."

Davison has tested for Team Australia and Derrick Walker in the United States and certainly showed signs that he could be a competitive driver in the 2006-spec Atlantic car.

"During testing James did all that we required of him, he was fast and consistent and we believe that he has a solid future in motorsport," said Walker.

"The Atlantic series is an important stepping stone for young drivers and as a team we have been encouraged by the caliber of young Australians we have seen and with the development program now in place it is an exciting time."

Davison will make his Champ Car Atlantic Series debut on the streets of Long Beach California on April 9 next year.

The championship will consist of 12 races for the season in 11 different venues.

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James Davison Profile

His father is former Formula 5000 racing driver Jon Davison who is President of Sandown International Motor Raceway. James' Grandfather Lex Davison, was four times winner of the Australian Grand Prix, but killed in 1965 at Sandown Park, whilst driving his 2.5 litre Brabham Climax in practice for the International 100.

James was educated at Scotch College, one of Australia's most respected private boys schools. In 2003 he coxed Scotch's leading rowing crew, which won the crew of the season and the final of the famous Head of the River.

In 2004 whilst completing his final year of school, James continued the Davison dynasty starting his motor racing career in the Victorian Formula Ford State Series in a nine year old RF95 Van Diemen. Racing against up to 32 vastly more experienced competitors all equipped with the latest cars including the top two Kart Stars drivers for 2003, James’ proved immediately competitive earning a pole position in the second round of the series. James went on to win and secure a 4th place finish in his first National race outing at Winton.

In December 2004, after graduating from Scotch College, James qualified for the Formula BMW Junior Scholarship Program at their Racing Center in Valencia Spain and was invited to attend the Scholarship Shoot-out in January of 2005. He performed superbly, impressed many onlookers and was in the top two qualifiers.

The absence of karting has provided James with a very steep learning curve.

This season his impressive efforts in the US Formula BMW Series included a win during the US Formula 1 event at Indianapolis.

In Montreal he took pole for both races, but was then forced into a wall by a backmarker and out of the weekend, as his car's tub was beyond repair.

In Denver he finished second in the opening race after a series of cautions continually reduced his race lead, which was out to almost four seconds at one stage.

[Kicking-back]

Is he the brother of A1GP driver Alex?

[JohnMiller]

Will?

[Kicking-back]

Yes, I meant Will!

[Hazza]

Nope, he's a cousin or something.

Alex is the Carrera Cup champ, Supercar driver and Will is the A1GP driver.

[cavvy]

Well done to Davo, his grandfather winning the 1957 Aus Grand Prix at Caversham is responsible for my life long love of the sport.

Lets hope Michael Patrizi who was runner up in Formula BMW Asia has similar luck taking the next step.

[mac]

Alex and Will are brothers. James is their cousin.