Davidson defends customer cars

While his Super Aguri team remain at the centre of a row about their plans to run a development version of last year's Honda Racing RA106 this season, Davidson is adamant that there is nothing wrong with chassis sharing.

"There are limited teams on the grid, it costs so much money to create a team and there are too many good drivers out there who would never get the chance to even do Formula Ford let alone F1," said Davidson, on the Central Stage at the Autosport International Show.

"If it can look professional and be run in a professional way, then I think it is right.

"I think manufacturers have enough money to put more than two cars on the grid and there are definitely drivers like myself who are out there, and are very capable of driving F1 cars, but who just never get the chance. I think it is a good thing."

Davidson believes that the presence of customer cars would also be good for the spectacle, because it would close the grid up and make F1 more competitive.

"There used to be more F1 cars on the grid and some of them used to get lapped every two laps. I don't think that is a very good thing either, so if they can all be quite competitive and up there then I think it is pretty good.

"From the simple fans' point of view, watching cars go quickly is what it is all about and the more fast cars you have closer together with good drivers in them it has to be better for the sport."

Super Aguri have yet to finalise a launch date for their 2007 car, and Davidson said the only guarantee at the moment is that it will be ready for the season opener.

"There are going to be adaptations of the car through (pre-season) testing," he said. "I am not sure when the car launch is going to be - but one thing is, I will definitely be driving the new car in Melbourne."