100th Greatest Driver of All Time

Looking at Alan Henry's Top 100, my eye is drawn, time and time again, to the name of Brian Redman. A driver of his abilities could surely not trouble anyone past around 95, but his placement on the penumbra of centennial greatness suggests to me a certain sentimental quality to Henry's opinion; not just a case of 'well, he's got to be in here and he's no Ralf Schumacher.' The fact that his career in Formula One was at best abortive surely only enhances the commendably wilful subjectivity of his final placing.

By placing him as the first name you read, and at the same time the lowest ranking in a distinguished list, Henry marks Redman out as a particularly noteworthy driver for reasons other than F1 success or preposessing talent, as Ensign14 put it (roughly), one whom 'F1 never gave the chance.'

Anyhow, that's my attempt to express the inexpressible, of the near-mystical qualities of Driver #100, and I'd be interested to know which driver the rest of the board thinks is most deserving of such unique recognition.

I'd probably put Hans-Joachim Stuck or Alex Zanardi, myself.

Johnny Herbert, Fisichella, Frentzen are all strangley missing from the list but have all had longer and more fruitful careers than Redman. If you want to go back further there is a case for adding in/not ommiting Fagioli, Trintignant or Hans Stuck (senior).

Someone like Williams would have been a good choice, but given that the criteria for inclusion seem utterly bizarre (how come Dick Seaman is in there? And if he is, why not Benoist? Nazzaro? And so on) I've no idea whether he'd qualify.

For the mix of mystique, thwarted ability, potential and "if only"ness, Peter Arundell.

I seem to remember (tho if I'm wrong it surely wouldn't be the first time!) that Nigel Roebuck once named Redman as his pick for the most underrated driver...

Nice Guys finish last, but they are great to hang around with and do more to help grow the love of the sport than half of the other more successful drivers on this list. There are more funny stories and real wisdom from Brian Redman as well. Plus he was the victor more often as not in one of the great Mano-y-Mano rivalries in US road racing history- Redman v. Andretti. Certainly not a slouch or a "gimme" nomination either...

From what I have gathered Brian is a great person and a remarkably underrated driver, underrated even by Brian himself....(See Fittipaldi's book with Kirby- "The Art of Motor Racing" or something like that where Gordon interviews Brian and gives a great interview)