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Anthony Davidson
By nGO November 26 2006
Anthony Davidson has had to patiently bide his time in motorsport, testing for Bar Honda since 2001. Finally this talented driver has been granted a full time race contract by Super Aguri in 2007.

Anthony Davidson began his racing career karting in 1987. His first noticable racing success was in RAC MSA Junior British Karting, winning the championship in his first year, 1994, and then following up this achievement by winning again the year after. In 1996 he stepped up to the FIA European karting championship finishing runner up before moving up to the FIA Oceania Karting Championship the following year, where he once again finished runner up.

Davidson's karting career took him all over the world with spending the next few years in American karting, finishing the championship 3rd. In 1999 Davidson competed in both the Italian karting championship, but also began his next step in single seaters by entering the Formula Ford Zetec Championship. Davidson proved he could handle the next step by winning the Formula Ford Zetec Championship with Six dominating wins from pole position.

In 2000, Anthony Davidson's talents were beginning to get the attention of the big players in motorsport. He won in the Formula Ford Festival world cup at Brand's hatch and earned the Mclaren Autosport Driver of the year award.

The young Englishman first entered F1 in 2001 testing for BAR Honda. It was also the year he competed in British F3 where he finished runner up to non other then Takuma Sato.  The same year Davidson also managed to win the FIA European F3 Cup, the Pau Grand Prix and the F3 Spa Masters.

Davidson became a full time Bar Honda tester in 2002, but also ended up competing in his two first grand prixs with Minardi after Alex Yoong was given timeout. Although he managed to qualify the car, both races ended with spins. In 2003, as well as testing for BAR Honda, he also competed in the FIA GT Sebring 12 Hour race driving for Veloqx Prodrive Ferrari at Le Mans. He finished runner up in his class.

2004 was a break through year for BAR Honda where the team finished 2nd in the constructers. Davidson was the team's third driver was regularly setting blistering times in Friday practice. Davidson was again their test driver for 2005 and 2006, he took over from an ill Sato in Malaysia in 2005. He qualified 15th and made it through the opening lap cleanly, before his engine blew up shortly after the start for the GP.

On the 15th of November it was announced that Anthony Davidson would have a full time race seat with Super Aguri. Some say he was long overdue a race seat, now partnering long time colleague Takuma Sato in 2007, we will find out what Davidson can really do.

 

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