We all enjoy listening to Ant Davidson’s F1 commentary on the radio, but what his fans really want to see is the fomer Honda and Super Aguri driver back in a race car. Could that now be on the cards again?
Davidson could be about to join a long list of successful Brits racing in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) tintop series after he travelled to Spain to test with title-holders Audi earlier this week.
Already driving for Audi last year were Brits Oliver Jarvis, who made his name in British F3 and racing for Team GBR in A1GP, and former Champ Car pilot Katherine Legge. The team has a vacancy after star sportscar driver Tom Kristensen announced his retirement from the series.
Driving for their rivals Mercedes were four more British drivers – Paul di Resta, Gary Paffett, Susie Stoddart and Jamie Green. And F1 veteran David Coulthard has been linked with a possible seat at the team, whether replacing an existing driver like Ralf Schumacher or filling a vacancy caused by, for example, Paul di Resta choosing to concentrate on F1.
Davidson told Autosport magazine: “I would definitely be interested in racing in the DTM. It’s something I’ve got my eye on and, if I was given a chance to do it, I would. They invited me to come and do the test and you can’t turn down a company like Audi.”
Davidson impressed during his time in F1 by punching far above the weight of the cash-strapped Super Aguri team, and is renowned as one of the best development drivers available, but has been unable to translate his reputation and popularity with fans into another solid drive in that series.
He spent the last year as a reserve driver for Brawn GP but the focus of that team on recruiting German drivers has been another blow to his prospects.
Speaking about his F1 future, he said: “I’ve tried very hard to get back into F1, and I’m still trying but with the chances of finding something diminishing there I’ve decided to look at opportunities elsewhere. I’ve always wanted to drive a DTM car, so this has been a good experience.”
Since leaving F1 Davidson has been involved in sportscar racing with Essex-based Gigawave Motorsport, and with Aston Martin Racing, for whom he competed in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside Darren Turner and Jos Verstappen.
Gigawave had been working along Nissan’s sports division NISMO on developing its GT-R racecar, although the partnership was concluded at the end of 2009. Davidson raced for the team at the 24 Hours of Spa event.