Thread: Autosport's Top 50 Drivers of 2008

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

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.

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

Most lists are subjective. I never saw this one when it came out, but I think it's poorly constructed. That said, it's always difficult to bring together multiple sports and try to 1-2-3 them.