Turner backs Davidson to shine

Davidson will feature in the LMP1-H class against Porsche’s Mark Webber who has switched from Formula One to the World Endurance Championship.

The 35-year-old currently leads the World Endurance Championship standings with Toyota after victories in the opening two rounds and Turner believes they will continue their good form at the Circuit de la Sarthe.

“Anthony has won the first two rounds of the World Endurance Championship and Toyota look very strong in testing recently so he’s got a great chance of making the top step and having a Le Mans win under his belt,” Turner told British Eurosport.

“I’ve got everything crossed for him, he’s a good friend and hopefully he and his team-mates can keep it all together.

“He’s in a different class to me so I’m sure he will be coming past me at some point in the race and I will be sure to give him a friendly wave and to make sure I don’t get in his way!”

Turner will be driving for Aston Martin Racing in the LM GTE Pro category again this year and will be hoping it is third time lucky after two successive third-place finishes in 2012 and 2013.

This will be the driver’s 12th consecutive Le Mans appearance but the 40-year-old insists he still relishes the unique experience of driving in the famous race.

“I’ve been with the Aston Martin team since they came back in 2004 and it is really special,” he said. “This for me is like it would be for an Italian driver racing in a Ferrari.

“I’m lucky to be part of that group of drivers that are representing Aston Martin at Le Mans. It always feels very special when you get behind the wheel with the Aston Martin badge but as soon as the engine fires up, your mind switches back to racing.

“We were very unlucky to miss out last year and ended up third and it’d be great if we can push that one step further. The competition is very hard. Porsche always have good cars. Ferrari and Corvette are very strong in testing so it’s going to be difficult and we’re going to need a mistake-free run and hopefully can pick up the pieces.

“Going on how we’ve been in testing it’s going to be very hard on outright pace so we need to minimise the mistakes and hopefully things will fall our way.”