Davidson eyes race seat

Anthony Davidson thinks his role as BAR test driver is the right path to landing a race seat in 2005. The Briton will be the team's Friday test session pilot throughout the 2004 season

"I hope my Friday performances will get noticed," said Davidson. "This is going to be one of my biggest opportunities. I'm not supposed to be racing this year, which is a strange thought....but you never know what could happen!"

Davidson, who drove two Grands Prix with Minardi in 2002, is likely to be called up to race if something happens to one of the BAR race drivers during the season. And he'll be eyeing one of the top contracts that come up for renewal at the end of this year.

"We could have been in the running for a pay-drive, going down the Justin Wilson route. But it seems better to be in a top team and getting paid to drive a Formula 1 car. I'll learn a lot without being too much in the limelight."

Davidson points out that Friday testers will have an even more vital role in the race weekend effort than they did last year.

"I think I will be used heavily on a Friday. The race cars have got limited engine mileage this year [with the new regulations], so I don't think the race drivers will do many laps unless it's a new circuit they need to learn.

"That's good for us third drivers, we should do loads of laps and I will get to learn the circuit. I'll miss racing, but even in a test we can have quite a bit of fun with each other out on the track."