Top Ten of the last decade - Ours & Theirs (Merged)

[Trev Campbell]

Just having a read on the publishing 101 website (The guys the do the V8 Yearbook) and they are bringing out a 10 year book for the V8's 1997-2006 that will include the top 10 drivers. I was just wondering who people would pick as there top 10 for the last decade. Mine would be

Mark Skaife
Marcos Ambrose
Craig Lowndes
Russell Ingall
Glenn Seton
John Bowe
Garth Tander
Greg Murphy
Jason Bright
Todd Kelly

[Pro Racer]

For me:

Mark Skaife
Craig Lowndes
Glenn Seton
John Bowe
Marcos Ambrose
Rick Kelly
Greg Murphy
Garth Tander
Russell Ingall
Jason Bright

[pete55]

I think i would put Steven Richards in ahead of Rick Kelly. Rick Kelly has not been around that long. I haven't thought about it much yet but there might be others to consider.

[Wrighty05]

Originally Posted by Trev Campbell

Just having a read on the publishing 101 website (The guys the do the V8 Yearbook) and they are bringing out a 10 year book for the V8's 1997-2006 that will include the top 10 drivers. I was just wondering who people would pick as there top 10 for the last decade. Mine would be

Mark Skaife
Marcos Ambrose
Craig Lowndes
Russell Ingall
Glenn Seton
John Bowe
Garth Tander
Greg Murphy
Jason Bright
Todd Kelly

That's actually pretty good. I like the top 3 the way it is.

Maybe Murphy ahead of Tander due to winning Bathurst 3 times in last 10 years??

Steven Richards ahead of Todd maybe also.

Rick has won a championship but still probably wouldn't quite make it due to longevity I guess.

[STEVO]

If it was for the 90's decade then Seton and Bowe should be higher up. But for the last ten years, I do question John Bowe being in the ten. DON'T GET ME WRONG, I love John Bowe but in the past 10 years aside from a couple of Bathurst podiums and being runner up to Glenn Seton in '97 - he hasn't won much.

Yes - that's because of the poor teams he's been a part of. NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS ABILITY - but based on stats, I wonder if someone else should be up there?

[Senna05]

For ATCC/V8's as a standalone, it'd have to be -

Mark Skaife
Craig Lowndes
Marcus Ambrose
Russell Ingall
Garth Tander
Rick Kelly
Glen Seton
Jason Bright
Greg Murphy
Steven Richards

But, For Bathurst, arguably the pinnacle of this sport -

Greg Murphy (4)
Mark Skaife (3 in period)
Rick Kelly (2)
Steven Richards (2)
Craig Lowdnes (1 in period)
Jim Richards (1 in period)
Tony Longhurst (1 in period)
Jamie Whincup (podiums, 1 win)
Glen Seton (nice string of podiums)
Steven Ellery (as above)

The above have won or been consistent at the mount, andtheir efforts over enduro time have shown why they are regarded as champions. I could have replaced Ellery with Brad Jones at any given time.

Interesting to debate whether we are looking at the top 10 greatest drivers in the time, in which Brocky should get a jersey as he raced in 97 (and was winning!) and Dick Johnson should rate as well... or just the top 10 in that time period - either way, the top 3 are reasonably easy to mark!

[cavvy]

Not in Supercars, but V8s, Paul Stubber leaves the above for dead.

[Pro Racer]

He has great racing in Historics and his run last year at Muscle Car Masters at EC in the old A9X was awsome till it broke, can't wait to see him and the boys on Sunday won't miss it.

[Razor]

And where is the late Mr Brock in any of the lists? He has experienced the V8 Supercabs before.

My list would have to be:
Peter Brock
Mark Skaife
Craig Lowndes
Greg Murphy
Glenn Seton
Steven Richards
Rick Kelly
John Bowe
Garth Tander
Todd Kelly

[Mickcals]

1. Craig Lowndes
2. Peter Brock
3. Marcos Ambrose
4. Mark Skaife
5. Russell Ingall
6. Greg Murphy
7. Garth Tander
8. Glenn Seton
9. Rick Kelly
10. John Bowe

[Pro Racer]

EDIT:

Mark Skaife
Peter Brock
Craig Lowndes
Glenn Seton
John Bowe
Marcos Ambrose
Rick Kelly
Greg Murphy
Garth Tander
Russell Ingall

[a42]

Hi there.
We have based our top 10 on statistics, an so far your guesses ar pretty close - we didn't set out to be controversial on this one, just accurate and I think the list is pretty good. I'd change the order if it was based on a personal choice, but I'm not sure I'd change the list too much.
Good to see some interest, make sure you keep talking, it is one way we work our what to write about... we're even happy to take suggestions.
Andrew

[WebberForWDC]

As for top 10 results I guess you would have to go

1. Mark Skaife (best results but always acheived in best car which is bad for his credibility as a truly good driver can drag a rustbucket near the front unlike Skaife)
2. Marcos Ambrose (saves Ford)
3. Glenn Seton (very well performed)
4. Craig Lowndes (not as great as he used to be?)
5. Greg Murphy (very good results in quick cars)
6. John Bowe (super quick for BJR)
7. Brad Jones (superb efforts for many years, especially at Bathurst)
8. Jason Bright (impressive technical ability)
9. Garth Tander (truly classy driver, unlucky to be missing out on championships when running the GRM VY instead of a deserved front running car)
10. Russell Ingall (fan favourite)



Should be on the list:
Jason Bargwanna
Mark Larkham
Tomas Mezera
Neil Crompton
Cameron McLean

Very good contributers, especially McLean.

[Senna05]

I'm surprised Jason Bright is missing in alot of lists...

3 second places in championship, 1 bathurst, clear ability in cars that arent the greatest....

03/04 were hampered obviously, and he has been able to drag most teams he's been in to some fantastic form.

[peckstar]

Its a difficult one.

1 Skaife has to be number one. 3 championships and 3 bathurst
2 Lowndes has to be number two. two Champinships and a bathurst
From here it gets hard
3 Murph, because of ten years in the game, 4 bathurst wins and at least two runners up in the championship.
4 Ingall 1 championship, one bathurst, 3 runners up in championship
then we go to some guys that havent been there all that time
5 Ambrose 2 championship, 2 3rd places in 5 years and put the Ford back into v8s. Probably the most imporatant driver to come into v8s in that time.
6 Rick, you really cant exclude him 1 championship and 2 bathursts. pretty impressive for a 24 yo and he is good for the championship (wears the black hat)
7 have to slip Seton in there, he has a championship in that time and some good results at bathurst, but his best was over early into the time frame.
8 multi bathurst winner Steven richards and regular front runner. gets in because of the Bathurst wins
9 Bright 1 bathurst 3 2nd places in championship, definate front runner up to this year.
10 GT slips in for a bathurst win and soem good racing throughout that time, but could raffle this spot to a few drivers

but not Brock. seriously guys his effort in that time is one round win and one other podium, if you include him on the list then you devalue your list

[agosling]

Putting Lowndes anywhere in the top 5 has to be done on sentiment alone, the simple fact is that for his first 5 years with Ford he did absolutely nothing. So his last ten years is basically really good until he switched to Ford, then nothing for 5 years and finally in 06 he put together a good year then this year has been reasonable without being spectacular.

I think looking at the ten years as a whole it would be much more reasonable to put him in at 7 or 8.

Any thoughts.

[Senna05]

You make a reasonable point.... However, He's still won 2 championships...

This is what I was saying earlier - Do we mert these guys on Championships - which would have MS 1, and CL tied with MA on 2...


Or do we merit these guys on Impact on the sport - Which would push Craig clear of MA, but also include Brock - Who cant deny it was the Peter Brock Fairwell Championship in 97, the Peter Brock welcome back Bathurst double in 2002/2004?

I just realised I left Jason Bright off my own Bathurst list, despite winning on his 2nd attempt, after just barracking for him.... ooops! He'd slide above Ellery and Jones easily.

[agosling]

It is always going to be part facts and part sentiment that goes into making this sort of list. But here is my take... and yes, Jim is there purely because my heart tells me he is one of our best ever.

Mark Skaife
Marcos Ambrose
Garth Tander
Jason Bright
Greg Murphy
Rick Kelly
Craig Lowndes
Todd Kelly
Russell Ingall
Jim Richards

The other thing about this sort of list is the "What if" questions it raises. What if Lowndes hadn't listened to his wallet, in all likelihood he would have dominated those 5 years that he instead spent in the wilderness and he would be far and away at the top of the list. What if Jason Bright stop leaving teams just as he starts to have success with them.

[Senna05]

So you've put Jim in there on sentiment.... Ummm...obviously not a Lowdnes fan?

The more important "What If" would have been if Bright had been able to get enough cash to continue in Indy?

I think i remember rumblings of GT looking to HRT after Lowndes... that would have indeed been interesting!

[agosling]

Jim is the only one I did on sentiment and even then I think there could be a fair case put forward for his inclusion, only much of his driving over the last 10 years has not been in V8's

No, I'm not a Lowndes fan, nor am I a Ford fan, however if you look at my list 5 of the 10 have spent time driving Ford's. While this is a thread that will never get full agreement, I think I have been fair and as far as possible used the facts to produce my list.

Jason Bright is one of the drivers who could have been one of the very best of the last 10 years but has made some questionable career decisions.

[peckstar]

so the 14 podiums, including two at bathurst in the years from 2001 to 2004.
the fact that he finished 2nd in the championship in 2005 and 2006 with the most round wins in both those years. they count for nothing then agosling

and then you put jim richards in who in the whole ten years had about as many races as Lowndes had podiums in the time lowndes did "absolutly nothing"

plus you add Tander at no 3 who in the same time frame as lowndes did "absolutly nothing" had only 6 podiums and in his whole life has finished top two in the championship once and just one bathurst win in that whole time and only two bathurst top tens

Seriously beforere judging others on sentiment, one should look inthe mirror

[agosling]

Average championship finishing position from 2001 to 2004 was 11th, with a high of 5th and a low of 20th. Not exactly great especially if you factor in what he was getting paid.

I'm fairly certain that when Ford stumped up very large amounts of cash to get him from Holden they would have hoped for better than one Bathurst and no championships in seven years.

I'll stick with my list, as I said before it is something that you will never get everyone to agree on, but it's always interesting to see everyones point of view.

[peckstar]

but you put tander 3rd. His best in the championship is 2nd ever. In the saem time frame Lowndes has had a win in the championship and two 2nds plus laowndes has had significantly more round wins amd significantly better bathurst results.

snce 99 GT has had two good years and 2007 which is not in the time frame is one of them

[agosling]

Yes I put Tander 3rd and Lowndes 7th, and I see no reason to change that. You have a different opinion and you are entitied to it.

[Rombles1]

Originally Posted by peckstar

Its a difficult one.

1 Skaife has to be number one. 3 championships and 3 bathurst
2 Lowndes has to be number two. two Champinships and a bathurst
From here it gets hard
3 Murph, because of ten years in the game, 4 bathurst wins and at least two runners up in the championship.
4 Ingall 1 championship, one bathurst, 3 runners up in championship
then we go to some guys that havent been there all that time
5 Ambrose 2 championship, 2 3rd places in 5 years and put the Ford back into v8s. Probably the most imporatant driver to come into v8s in that time.
6 Rick, you really cant exclude him 1 championship and 2 bathursts. pretty impressive for a 24 yo and he is good for the championship (wears the black hat)
7 have to slip Seton in there, he has a championship in that time and some good results at bathurst, but his best was over early into the time frame.
8 multi bathurst winner Steven richards and regular front runner. gets in because of the Bathurst wins
9 Bright 1 bathurst 3 2nd places in championship, definate front runner up to this year.
10 GT slips in for a bathurst win and soem good racing throughout that time, but could raffle this spot to a few drivers

but not Brock. seriously guys his effort in that time is one round win and one other podium, if you include him on the list then you devalue your list

OK, I think this may be the first time ever, but..... I agree with Peckstar!








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