Davidson to Drive Third BAR Next Year

Briton Anthony Davidson claims his decision to remain as a test driver with BAR-Honda this season will pay dividends next year when he is likely to benefit from new rules introduced into Formula One.

BAR-Honda will be given the opportunity to test three cars in the two hour-long practice sessions on the Friday of a Grand Prix weekend in 2004 and Davidson is confident of getting the chance to join Jenson Button and Takuma Sato on track.

"This is a dream come true," Davidson told Autosport magazine. "It is what we planned would happen and, although some people said we were stupid to stay at BAR as second test driver, we knew there was a chance for something like this.

"It is priceless to be able to learn all the tracks that are on the calendar and to be in the limelight for two hours on the Friday of grand prix practice."

Davidson was fourth choice driver at BAR-Honda last season but is expected to step up to test and reserve driver after Sato was promoted to the race team in place of Jacques Villeneuve.

Davidson, who competed in two races for Minardi in 2002, is permitted to run in a third car in the practice sessions with drivers having to have taken part in six or less races in the past two years.