Autosport's Top 50 Drivers of 2008 - World Racing Forum - Formula 1 news and forums

Fidel · 7th Jan 2009, 09:36 PM

Here is a list I found of Autosport's top 50 drivers for 2008. This is always a fun list as it draws up some controversy! What do you guys think ?

50) Jamie Whincup (Aus) - V8 Supercars Champion
49) Gianmaria Bruni (Ita) - FIA GT2 Champion, Le Mans GT2 Winner
48) Giedo van der Garde (Ned) - World Series by Renault Champion
47) Fabrizio Giovanardi (Ita) - British Touring Car Champion
46) Jamie Green (GB) - 4th in DTM
45) Sebastien Ogier (Fra) - Junior World Rally Champion
44) Bruno Senna (Brz) - GP2 Runner-Up
43) Lucas Luhr (Ger) - ALMS LMP1 Champion
42) Andy Priaulx (GB) - 4th in WTCC
41) Ryan Briscoe (Aus) - 5th in IRL
40) Sebastien Bourdais (Fra) - 17th in F1
39) Rob Huff (GB) - 3rd in WTCC
38) Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) - 19th in F1
37) Neel Jani (Swz) - A1 GP Champion
36) Romain Grosjean (Fra) - GP2 Asia Champion, 4th in GP2
35) Tony Kanaan (Brz) - 3rd in IRL
34) Nicolas Minassian (Fra) - 2nd in LMS LMP1, Le Mans Overall Runner-Up
33) Lucas di Grassi (Brz) - 3rd in GP2
32) Timo Scheider (Ger) - DTM Champion
31) Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) - F3 Euroseries Champion
30) Franck Montagny (Fra) - 3rd in Le Mans Overall, 7th in ALMS LMP2
29) Jenson Button (GB) - 18th in F1
28) Romain Dumas (Fra) - ALMS LMP2 Champion, Sebring 12 Hours Winner, Nurburgring 24 Hours Winner
27) Yvan Muller (Fra) - World Touring Car Champion
26) Carl Edwards (USA) - NASCAR Sprint Cup Runner-Up, NASCAR Nationwide Series Runner-Up
25) Paul di Resta (GB) - DTM Runner-Up
24) Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) - 7th in F1
23) Helio Castroneves (Brz) - IRL Runner-Up
22) Giorgio Pantano (Ita) - GP2 Champion
21) Nico Rosberg (Ger) - 13th in F1
20) Stephane Sarrizan (Fra) - Spa 24 Hours Winner, 4th in LMS LMP1
19) Jari-Matti Latvala (Fin) - 4th in WRC
18) David Brabham (Aus) - ALMS LMP2 Runner-Up, Le Mans GT1 Winner
17) Nick Heidfeld (Ger) - 6th in F1
16) Mikko Hirvonen (Fin) - WRC Runner-Up
15) Timo Glock (Ger) - 10th in F1
14) Rubens Barrichello (Brz) - 14th in F1
13) Kyle Busch (USA) - 10th in NASCAR Sprint Cup, 6th in NASCAR Nationwide Series
12) Jimmie Johnson (USA) - NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion
11) Jarno Trulli (Ita) - 9th in F1
10) Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) - 3rd in F1
9) Allan McNish (GB) - Le Mans Overall Winner, Sebring 12 Hours LMP1 Winner, Petit Le Mans Overall Winner
8) Mark Webber (Aus) - 11th in F1
7) Scott Dixon (NZ) - IRL Champion, Indy 500 Winner
6) Sebastian Vettel (Ger) - 8th in F1
5) Sebastien Loeb (Fra) - World Rally Champion
4) Felipe Massa (Brz) - F1 Runner-Up
3) Fernando Alonso (Esp) - 5th in F1
2) Lewis Hamilton (GB) - F1 Champion
1) Robert Kubica (Pol) - 4th in F1

Harakimi · 7th Jan 2009, 10:00 PM

...seems to favour F1 and stuff...

Barrichello 14th?

Kovalainen? Webber? Trulli? BUTTON?? C'moon....

This year I would rate Dixon over Massa and Kyle Bush over Raikkonen even if I don't follow IRL or NASCAR. Sebastien Loeb should be 1st in that list.

DanicaRules · 8th Jan 2009, 05:25 AM

First off, Danica isnt even on that list....come on, thats just crazy or stupid however you want to call it.

Scott Dixon, Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch should all be ahead of Kubica. You could even put Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan in over him.

Wylie13 · 8th Jan 2009, 07:56 AM

As usual it's bais towards European circuit racers. How can a journeyman F1 racer be rated better than a 3 time NASCAR champ. Only one Aussie V8 peddler considered com'on. What about the likes of the World of Outlaws stars, Schatz with a 20 percent win rate from a hundred odd meetings makes the circuit posers doing 18 events a year look pathetic. Despite Danica scoring a win this year she would still only make the top 50 for best looking driver.

Fidel · 8th Jan 2009, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wylie13

As usual it's bais towards European circuit racers. How can a journeyman F1 racer be rated better than a 3 time NASCAR champ. Only one Aussie V8 peddler considered com'on. What about the likes of the World of Outlaws stars, Schatz with a 20 percent win rate from a hundred odd meetings makes the circuit posers doing 18 events a year look pathetic. Despite Danica scoring a win this year she would still only make the top 50 for best looking driver.

lol! They seem to have somewhat of a hardon for F1 drivers. Barichello 14th seems a bit far fetched. Maybe its a sympathy vote because this might be his last season in F1 or something. Jimmie Johnson seemed pretty dominating this year maybe a few more spots would have been in order. I know its not F1 but if u dominate a series like that, u deserve a better spot IMO. Ill be honest, I dont know Sebastien Loeball all that much

Pold Denis · 28th Jan 2009, 06:40 PM

Loeb should definitely be number 1... isnt it like his 5th WRC Championship in a row? heard he did it with style also this year...