Website: Anthony Davidson
Most Recent: BBC 5 Live F1 pundit, Peugeot Sport driver at 2010 Le Mans and winner of 2010 12 Hours of Sebring
Career highlights: 1994-95, British Junior 100B & ICA kart champion; 1996-97, leading name on European and World karting scene; 1999, winner of Formula Ford Kent Festival; 2000, winner of Formula Ford World World Cup and McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year; 2001, F3 Euroseries champion and British F3 runner-up; 2002 F1 debut with Minardi; 2006, one F1 GP with Honda; 2007-08, F1 with Super Aguri.
Anthony Davidson is the kind of name that thousands of aspiring karters and junior single-seater drivers across the UK – each striving one day for perfection and glory and to reach the pinnacle of the sport – can identify with. Indeed, Anthony’s career path is one that has experienced many of the tricky situations from which a young driver can learn invaluable lessons for the future.
He started out in karts as a nipper in the mid-80s and his skill soon led to British Junior ICA titles which were followed up by more championship successes overseas at European and World level. He then returned to the UK to make his car racing debut in Formula Fords and within two years he won its biggest race – the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch, while also starring in the category’s British championship, then part of the BTCC support bill. A single season in Formula 3 followed and he won the European (now Euroseries) title and finished a close runner-up in the British championship to Carlin team-mate Takuma Sato.
Anthony then became the Honda F1 team’s test driver, although it was with the Minardi team that he ultimately made his F1 debut in two grands prix in 2002. The following year, while remaining with Honda F1, he also raced a Prodrive-run Ferrari in the Le Mans 24 Hours and Sebring 12 Hours sportscar races. In 2007, Anthony got his overdue first full-time race drive in F1 with the new Super Aguri team. Sadly the team folded shortly after the start of the 2008 season and Anthony returned to sports cars racing for Aston Martin and Peugeot Sport, winning the 2010 12 Hours of Sebring on his debut for the French Team.