Seeing a Red Bull Ampol Racing Commodore at last week's Supercars pre-season test in Queensland without the name Whincup was a jarring moment for Will Davison.
The Ford driver is a long-time friend of seven-time champion Jamie Whincup, who has moved into a new role as managing director of the powerful Holden team after retiring as a full-time driver at the end of 2021.
Davison got his first taste of life on the grid without Whincup behind the wheel at the test at Queensland Raceway last week.
He will now duel with Whincup's replacement Broc Feeney and will have to get used to it.
"It's such a fast moving pace this sport, you just don't have time to reflect," Davison told AAP.
"There was a brief moment at the QR test, seeing another name on his car. It was a bit of a, just a little pause moment, but more of a happy-for-a-mate moment.
"Just like, wow, where's time gone to two kids that moved up here in '06 when he got his Triple Eight opportunity and he's called it on his terms.
"It's weird, but it's in good context. He's had a great story and he's going to be in a different role."
Whincup swapping a helmet for a headset isn't going to alter the pair's racing rivalry however, with Davison expecting the teams to again be fiercely contesting this year's Supercars championship race.
"I'm sure he'll be trying to get me pinged for all sorts of things this year," Davison said.
"May the battle continue, but, no, good on him, happy for him.
"He's had a great career and everything's going swimmingly for him now.
"Just, yeah, another one of those little moments that every now and then makes you pause and reflect and go 'where's time gone' and just to enjoy every second of it."
The 2022 Supercars championship begins next week with the Sydney SuperNight event at Sydney Motorsport Park from March 4 to 6.
