Davison thrilled to get DJR up front
It may only be practice but Will Davison admitted it was a big boost to see both Dick Johnson Racing Mustangs at the pointy end in Taupo after a “tough time.”
Davison was towards the top of the timesheets for long periods of the 90 minute session and finished third fastest with a 1:26.5445, just 0.05s away from leader Chaz Mostert.
With the sister DJR Mustang of Anton De Pasquale also up there being seventh, the famous Ford squad was one of just two teams along with BJR to have more than one car inside the top 10.
It is a big boost following a challenging start to the season for DJR, which sits a lowly 10th in the constructors championship.
Taupo was the first time both DJR Mustangs were in the top 10 in the opening session of the weekend in 2024.
Davison’s P5 on the Friday of the Melbourne SuperSprint was the team’s only top five across the first two rounds, which joins last year as the fewest recorded at this stage of the season since the pre Scott McLaughlin days of 2016.
Will Davison was a happy man after practice in Taupo. Image: Peter Norton EPIC Sports Photography
Although the #17 sits 10th in the standings, De Pasquale is all the way down in 21st which is why the microscope is on DJR.
It is also why Davison revealed it is a big boost and relief to start the Taupo Super400 on the front foot and he is hopeful it is a sign of things to come and a resurgence.
“Best opening session for the year which is great because it was a big unknown coming here,” he said.
“We need every little bit of positivity at the moment just to keep the spirits up.
“It has been a tough time at the team but we know what we are all capable of so it just about getting it all together.
“You get asked the same question every day, being kicked while you are down.
“We will just keep knuckling down, trying to unlock the magic in this car. Whether we have done that I don’t know.”
Despite the strong start and having 90 minutes of track time to understand the new challenge of Taupo, Davison admitted teams are still slightly in the dark heading into qualifying.
“It is a very very different style of circuit to really anywhere,” he said.
“We had a feeling we would have a decent car on a circuit like this and we went okay.
“We have a heap of stuff to look at because you are just throwing so much at the car and don’t get a true read because of the grip changes run to run.
“The grip was changing so much from run to run it was hard to see what we actually need to be quick in qualifying.”
Image: Peter Norton EPIC Sports Photography
Taupo Super400 schedule (all times AEDT)
Friday, April 19
Practice: 1: C. Mostert 1:26.4937 2: M. Payne +0.0318 3: W. Davison +0.0508
Saturday, April 20
Qualifying Race 7: 08.20
Top 10 Shootout: 10.00
Race 7 (60 laps): 13.05
Sunday, April 21
Qualifying Race 8: 08.45
Top 10 Shootout: 10.25
Race 7 (60 laps): 13.05
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