Bathurst 1000: Davison predicts chaos after crashing among the carnage in qualifying

Dick Johnson Racing veteran Will Davison has predicted an incident-filled Bathurst 1000 on Sunday after detailing his own “violent” crash in qualifying which left him sore and bruised.

Dick Johnson Racing veteran Will Davison has predicted an incident-filled Bathurst 1000 on Sunday after detailing his own “violent” crash in qualifying which left him sore and bruised.

Reflecting on his heavy smash which red-flagged the end of a wild qualifying session on Friday, Davison described it as one of the “bigger ones” he had experienced in his career after he slammed sideways into the concrete wall at the Dipper.

The dual Bathurst 1000 champion was back behind the wheel of his Ford Mustang for the final practice session on Saturday after the team worked throughout the night to repair his badly damaged car.

Davison, 42, said returning to the track had been the “best medicine” as he tried to put the dramatic accident behind him ahead of Sunday’s 1000km race.

The 2009 and 2016 Bathurst 1000 champion said the impact had been much harder than he had expected after he lost control near where David Reynolds had crashed earlier in the qualifying session.

“It’s one of the big ones, any concrete one is big,” Davison said.

“The side ones aren’t great, there is no absorption. I have had some much faster accidents, but the actual shock that went through my body in the car was probably one of the bigger ones that I have ever felt.

“So that was a bit of a surprise, I was not really expecting it to be a big accident the way that it happened. It was just the nature of the angle and the way that I hit the wall and just the way it ricocheted me off the other way, it was just a huge whip effect.

“It was way more violent than I was expecting, it was a huge shock.”

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Trouble at the top pf the hill for Percat & Davidson

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Davison had medical checks after the accident, but was cleared of any serious injury.

But he said he was still feeling stiff and sore after the impact on Saturday.

“I’m just quite sore. I had quite a bit of a whiplash to the side, so just actually the side of my neck …. and all down my chest and my ribs,” Davison said.

“Besides that I’m OK, just some bruises around my knees and elbows, some pretty big black bruises, but I’m otherwise good.”

Davison spent time in the ice bath and received physio treatment on Saturday in a bid to aid his recovery from the crash ahead of long stints in the car for the Great Race on Sunday.

The Supercars stalwart and his young co-driver Kai Allen will start the race from 16th.

Davison said the pair needed to tackle the race sensibly starting from mid-pack in a race he expected to be incident-packed after a lead-up filled with incidents already.

Will Davison’s team worked through the night to get his car back on track.

“I’ll just do what I always do and hopefully I’m feeling good and, if not, just be mentally strong and grin and bear it,” he said.

“We’re in an OK position and I think now we’ve got to tackle the race sensibly, which is play it smart.

“I sense that it is going to be filled with incidents, there is going to be a lot of errors on not making any ourselves and just play ourselves into the race in a smart way.

“Hopefully put ourselves somewhere in a reasonable position in the last hour or so and then see if we’ve got something to fight with as the track rubbers up towards the end.

“But I think it’s going to be one of those days.”

Davison’s car had to be stripped back to its chassis and the DJR crew was at the track until almost 5am repairing the car so it could get back out on track for practice on Saturday and he hailed the team’s efforts.

Will Davison is among the experienced drivers tackling the mountain. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s pretty inspiring, they are the best in the business and to see them tackle that head on in such a positive mindset,” Davison said.

“It’s a weird feeling going to bed feeling pretty ordinary and sore and sorry, but knowing they are working all night.

“I’m still not feeling the best today, but it was nice to just do a few laps and put it behind me.

“It’s one of those things, you’ve got to try and forget it, which is hard for a few laps and put all your focus into the race tomorrow because it is still all wide open.”

In an act of sportsmanship, Matt Stone Racing driver Nick Percat immediately pulled up alongside Davison to check on him after the accident and he thanked him for his “beautiful gesture”.

“It was really nice of Nick. We have known each other a long time and we’re good friends and it was a beautiful gesture, he obviously genuinely cared,” Davison said.

“At that time I was a bit dazed … I saw his car there at one stage and I didn’t know what he was doing, I thought he might have crashed himself.

“Then I realised he was just coming to help me. He was trying to sit me down, I think I was just full of adrenaline trying to get out.

“We all do care for each other’s safety as drivers. You hate seeing someone have a big accident as it’s not a nice feeling because it can happen to us at any time.”

Originally published as Bathurst 1000: Davison predicts chaos after crashing among the carnage in qualifying