Davison confirmed with Menu in British F3.

Australian international motor racing star Will Davison has signed to drive with Menu Motorsport in the 2004 British Formula 3 Championship.

The 21-year-old, who debuted in the cut-throat British championship last season, is keen to begin testing when the category's winter testing ban ends on February 15.

"This is where I wanted to be," said Davison of the team he finished the 2003 season so strongly with.

"I had limited time with the team late last season but we developed a good relationship and I am sure that we will be a force to be reckoned with this year. I believe that we will be strong from the word go and that I can give title favourite Nelson Piquet Jr a run for his money.

"There has been a lot of work from a lot of people to get me here and we still are still working very hard to make sure we can raise the necessary budget to get us through the entire season. But we have enough to get started and that's what we're going to do.

"You simply can't hold back now. My career is at the stage where if 110 percent in all areas is not given, then I may as well stay at home."

Davison finished last year with the Menu team, qualifying and finishing second in the final round at Brands Hatch on his way to a strong eighth overall in the championship in his debut British F3 season.

He drove for expatriate Aussie Alan Docking's team for most of the season, achieving the rare feat of winning a round [at Croft in May] in his debut year.

The 2001 Australian Formula Ford Champion is also due to test for the Minardi Formula 1 team this year, thanks to expat Aussie team owner Paul Stoddart and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation for whom Davison is an Official Ambassador.

The offer is conditional on Davison performing well in Formula 3 this year and signing for Menu Motorsport is the perfect start as far as Davison is concerned.

"I found the team fantastic to work with late last year and that carrot of the Minardi test during this year is dangling in front of me as well so it's shaping up to be a big year," said Davison.

Menu Motorsport team boss Mike Baker is very happy with the line-up he has arranged for the season, with Malaysian Fairuz Fauzy to drive alongside Davison.

"I have got the drivers I want," said Baker, who has an Australian, Mick Kouros, heading up his squad's engineering department.

"It is important to have drivers in their second year of F3 and that is what I wanted. Will is a winner, he has proved that, and Fairuz improved as last year went on. I am confident that we can push for more wins and the title this year."

Last year, the team - which is owned by former British Touring Car Champion Alain Menu - won one British F3 race and took 15 podium finishes, making it one of the most successful in the championship.

Based at Brands Hatch, the team will use the successful Dallara chassis fitted with Opel-Speiss engines.

Davison flies back to England tomorrow, before he and the Menu outfit begin pre-season on February 16. The 2004 championship begins at Donington Park on April 4.

Davison will briefly return for the opening round of the Formula 1 World Championship at Albert Park, in his role as an Official Ambassador for the Foster's Australian Grand Prix, returning to the UK immediately after for the start of his own series.