Honda Racing F1 Team confirms Davidson as Third Driver
 The
Honda Racing F1 Team is pleased to confirm that Anthony Davidson
will be its Third Driver for the 2006 Formula One season.
26 year-old Davidson, who has been with the team since 2001,
now completes Honda Racing’s full race weekend driver
line-up for the coming season alongside race drivers Jenson
Button and Rubens Barrichello.
Anthony will fulfil the crucial Friday testing role at each
Grand Prix, as well as regular testing duties throughout the
year. He will also be on stand-by should he be required to
substitute for either race driver in a Grand Prix at short
notice.
The team is delighted that Anthony will remain as part of
its driver line-up and grateful for his continued loyalty
and dedication. To retain a driver of Anthony’s calibre
will greatly strengthen the team’s performance and its
ambitions of winning the Constructors’ Championship.
This will be Anthony’s fifth year with the team. After
three seasons in the roles of test and reserve driver, Anthony
made the step up to third driver in 2004, delivering excellent
performances in Friday testing in 2004 to regularly top the
free practice timesheets. With no third driver role in the
2005 season due to the team’s second place finish in
the 2004 Constructors’ Championship, Anthony concentrated
on testing where his commitment and insight have been highly
valued by the team.
Commenting on the continuation of his role as Third Driver,
Anthony Davidson said, “I’m really looking forward
to starting the 2006 season with the team in its new guise
as the Honda Racing F1 Team. I have enjoyed five years with
the team during which time I have made a positive contribution
to its development. My decision to remain with Honda is the
right one, for sure. They are committed to F1 for the long-term
and absolutely focused on winning the World Championship.
Although I would prefer to be in a race seat in 2006, I am
in the best possible position to work towards achieving that
goal. For now, we have a very intensive testing programme
coming up in preparation for what should be an exciting 2006
season.”
Gil de Ferran, Honda Racing F1 Team Sporting Director, comments,
“We have said many times how important Anthony Davidson’s
contribution has been over the past few years to our progress
and competitiveness. We are delighted that he accepted our
offer to remain with the team as our third driver for 2006.”
”Although we all know that Anthony aspires to be a
Formula One race driver, and we are all confident that this
will happen eventually, his role at Honda Racing is crucial
to us this season. In addition to regular testing duties he
will also be present at each Grand Prix weekend for Friday
testing and to assist with tyre and set-up decisions.”
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