» V8s: Jeld-Wen drive still up for grabs

Alex Davison will be battling with up to five other drivers to retain his seat in the Jeld-Wen Ford Falcon in next year’s V8 Supercars Championship, seat holder Charlie Schwerkolt has confirmed.

The #18 seat – and that of the second race seat at Volvo Polestar Racing – is one of the most competitive drives still up for grabs as next year’s championship season approaches.

Davison – older brother to outgoing FPR driver Will Davison – returned to the championship full-time after spending a year in the Porsche Carrera Cup, having previously spent three seasons in the V8 Supercars with Stone Brothers Racing.

Signed to a one-year deal, Davison’s performances– as they have been for much of his V8 Supercars career – were wildly inconsistent. He claimed just one podium finish (at Phillip Island) and finished thirteenth in the Drivers’ Championship standings, which the worst-placed of the four-car FPR stable in which Schwerkolt’s operation is housed.

With Schwerkolt having targeted a top-ten placing at the start of the season, Davison’s lack of results have put his head on the chopping block, although he did finish the season strongly, with four top-ten finishes in the last five races.

“Alex is a hell of a nice guy, a good mate and has done a great job the last couple of rounds,” Schwerkolt told the official V8 Supercars website.

“Perth was also good for us, Queensland Raceway was good for us until a tyre went, and New Zealand on the Sunday was good for us as well.

“But we have had some shockers too. I think there have been five times this year we have qualified 26th or 27th.

“There are half a dozen guys (being considered) for sure [and] Alex nis among them,” he added.

An added complication is the need for a driver to bring some commercial backing – as well as a heavy right foot – to pilot the car next year.

“I need both,” Schwerkolt added. “I need a little bit of money definitely and I need a lot of talent.

“I need to make a decision as soon as I possibly can, because we have got to race at the Clipsal (500) in 90 days times apparently and I guess have to work out who is going to steer the car. Unless I work that out we are in a bit of trouble!”