By Phil Huff
January 1 2006

Anthony Davidson has proved himself at every level of motorsport, but thus far has failed to land a full time Formula One drive. A two-race deal with Minardi finally gave him the chance to shine, but there's been no contracts thrust his way. Starting out in 1994, Anthony won the RAC MSA Junior British Karting Championship, and followed that up the next year by doing exactly the same thing!

A switch in 1996 to the CIK/FIA European Karting Championship proved slightly tougher, but the runner up slot was well deserved, and set him up nicely for 1997's attack on the KCIK/FIA Oceania Karting Championship. Another runner up slot was the result.

Moving to the WKA/FMK/FIA North American Karting Championship in 1998, Anthony raced to third place. Returning to Europe a year later, Anthony split his time between the Italian Karting Open championship (which he came runner up in) and the Formula Ford Zetec championship. Six wins, all from pole position, secured him his first championship.

Runner up in 2000, and winner of the Formula Ford Festival World Cup at Brands Hatch, Anthony had done enough to win the respected Autosport McLaren Young Driver of the Year award. Anthony had arrived.

He'd done enough to get a job as test driver for Lucky Strike BAR Honda, but needed to continue racing. Formula 3 was the natural next step, and he finished runner up in the British championship. However, he took the time to win the FIA European F3 Cup, the Pau Grand Prix and the F3 Spa Masters.

A quiet year for 2002, Anthony concentrated on his Lucky Strike BAR Honda testing duties, but struck lucky later in the year. As Alex Yoong was rested from the Minardi F1 team, Anthony was called up. Two races for Minardi Asiatech was a great opportunity but, sadly, both ended in spins.

In 2003 Anthony had a stab at sportscars, securing second in class at the FIA GT Sebring 12 Hour race, and driving for Veloqx Prodrive Ferrari at Le Mans. Testing for Lucky Strike BAR Honda and being reserve driver for Jaguar Racing rounded off his year.

Another year of testing in 2004 saw Anthony helping to develop the fast BAR 006 that took Jenson Button to third in the championship and netted the team 11 podium finishes. With the rules allowing the team to run a third car on the Friday at each Grand Prix, Anthony finally got to show what he was capable of, consistently being amongst the fastest runners, often at circuits he'd never visited.

His performances saw him linked to Red Bull, Sauber and Williams, but he remains at BAR Honda for 2005. Still desperate for a race seat, he didn't have to wait long. Replacing the ill Takuma Sato at Malaysia, Anthony performed well for two laps before reliability gremlins robbed him of a chance to shine.

Some write Ant off as a has-been. He's a still-will-be in our book.