Will returns in full stride
FORD driver Will Davison is confident his injured ankle won’t give him any grief when he gets back behind the wheel for this weekend’s Townsville 400.
Davison is a keen runner away and a regular visitor to Townsville for the Triathlon Festival along with his partner and Supercars Riana Crehan.
But the 35- year- old has been forced to wear a moon boot for the past month after fracturing his left ankle while training with his running group on the Gold Coast.
Davison battled through the pain for the last Supercars round in Darwin, finishing 13th and 14th across the two races, but he said he felt much more comfortable ahead of the Townsville event.
“The first few weeks it was just really, really painful and pit reporter the swelling was horrible, but I’m back on the stationary bike and swimming and it’s just annoying now,” Davison said.
“I wouldn’t say it affected me too much ( in Darwin), but it made the starts very tough and the pit stops and then obviously downshifting. I just limited using the clutch.
“It was strapped pretty heavily because the swelling was so bad and just how I’d sit it in the car and how I’d have it on the footrest was a bit sore, but we got through all right.
“It was interesting, but I’m looking forward to being back in the car this weekend and I know it will be much more comfortable than Darwin.”
The veteran of more than 400 race starts has embarked on a fresh challenge this season after joining the revamped 23Red Racing – which has emerged from Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport – while also switching back to driving a Ford from Holden.
Davison has managed five top- 10 finishes so far without a test day in his ex- Prodrive Racing Australia Falcon FG X and he said every race was an important learning experience for the new team.
“As a team we’re always striving to raise the bar,” Davison said.
“We’ve had plenty of top 10 results this year and now we obviously want to start hunting into that top five podium region.
“I still think the car has a lot of strengths and I think it will be better suited to the Townsville circuit. I reckon it’s going to be a good opportunity for us to have a strong weekend.”