Davidson eyeing a race seat for 2005

Ant testing at BAR
By Phil Huff (13/01/2004)
January 13 2004

Lucky Strike BAR Honda's test driver Anthony Davidson believes that his vital role, in full public view on Friday mornings, will lead him right into an F1 drive for 2005.

"I hope my Friday performances will get noticed," said Davidson. "This is going to be one of my biggest opportunities. I'm not supposed to be racing this year, which is a strange thought... but you never know what could happen!"

Anthony is also likely to be the reserve driver for BAR, after being substitute for Jaguar through 2003. His target is to land a full time race seat, but he's not prepared to sacrifice everything to achieve that.

"We could have been in the running for a pay-drive, going down the Justin Wilson route. But it seems better to be in a top team and getting paid to drive a Formula 1 car. I'll learn a lot without being too much in the limelight.

"I think I will be used heavily on a Friday. The race cars have got limited engine mileage this year [with the new regulations], so I don't think the race drivers will do many laps unless it's a new circuit they need to learn.

"That's good for us third drivers, we should do loads of laps and I will get to learn the circuit. I'll miss racing, but even in a test we can have quite a bit of fun with each other out on the track."