16 replies to this topic

[jeze]

Since V8's have grown significantly the last ten years I think we ought to have a thread ranking the top 10 drivers of this decade in the premier motor sport series in the Southern hemisphere.

1, Jamie Whincup
2, Mark Skaife
3, Marcos Ambrose
4, Craig Lowndes
5, Garth Tander
6, Greg Murphy
7, Russell Ingall
8, Will Davison
9, Rick Kelly
10, Mark Winterbottom

So now Ausies, it's your turn

[potmotr]

I'd put Marcos Ambrose in the Number 1 spot with Greg Murphy second.

Whincup is a great driver, but his championships have been a bit like he appears on TV... boring!

Murphy's qualifying lap at Bathurst 2003 is the V8 moment of the decade for sure.

Amazing that it still stands today.

[marchi-91]

Considering Skaife is the most prolific driver of the decade, I say he deserves to be number one. He pips Jamie by a title and several round wins. People may degrade Skaifes success due to the domination of HRT, but he effectively beat murph, both Kelly's and Ingall in the same equipment 'bar Ingall' comprehensively.

[potmotr]

Skaife was pretty awesome at the start of the decade for sure.

Who knows how much more success he'd have had if he hadn't tried to play the team owner game before getting robbed blind by the filthy crook Tom Walkinshaw.

[potmotr]

Skaife was pretty awesome at the start of the decade for sure.

Who knows how much more success he'd have had if he hadn't tried to play the team owner game before getting robbed blind by the filthy crook Tom Walkinshaw.

[Slyder]

Rick Kelly.

Because he managed to piss off half the fans out there thanks to his memorable run-in with runner-up (or is it the true champion?) Lowndes.

[marchi-91]

Skaife was pretty awesome at the start of the decade for sure.

Who knows how much more success he'd have had if he hadn't tried to play the team owner game before getting robbed blind by the filthy crook Tom Walkinshaw.

It certainly put a massive amount of responsibility on him. Even so, in 06 he was the fastest driver on the grid, which leaves the imagination open to think what should have been.

[jeze]

Skaife was pretty awesome at the start of the decade for sure.

Who knows how much more success he'd have had if he hadn't tried to play the team owner game before getting robbed blind by the filthy crook Tom Walkinshaw.

Yeah, he was... Unfortunately he faded dramtically afterwards. Jamie was so brilliant in the last couple of years, and won Bathurst three times up until the age of 25. That's class. But Skaife is a top bloke as well, absolutely.

[potmotr]

Yeah, he was... Unfortunately he faded dramtically afterwards. Jamie was so brilliant in the last couple of years, and won Bathurst three times up until the age of 25. That's class. But Skaife is a top bloke as well, absolutely.

Yep, I hear you on Whincup, he's a really great driver.

I do find him really dull though, he's not really a character of the sport like Murphy, Skaife, Lowndes, Ingall etc etc.

I think Skaife's decline shows you how much psychological pressure he must have been under running the team.

[jeze]

Yep, I hear you on Whincup, he's a really great driver.

I do find him really dull though, he's not really a character of the sport like Murphy, Skaife, Lowndes, Ingall etc etc.

I think Skaife's decline shows you how much psychological pressure he must have been under running the team.

No that may be true, but I really like drivers who are focused on winning and not on charming others (guys like Alain Prost, Scott Dixon et cetera).

[potmotr]

No that may be true, but I really like drivers who are focused on winning and not on charming others (guys like Alain Prost, Scott Dixon et cetera).

I don't think you can fault Greg Murphy's desire to win.

He has a rage to win, as evidenced at Bathurst 2005.

[jeze]

I don't think you can fault Greg Murphy's desire to win.

He has a rage to win, as evidenced at Bathurst 2005.

Problem is, that he never became champion, that's why it's hard to compare him to greats such as Skaife and Whincup. If the list had been about Bathurst he'd be #1 full-stop, but don't forget that Tander and Whincup are pretty decent around there as well...

[Jazza]

Too hard to make a list of top 10. But I could give my list of which 3 drivers have been the most disappointing.

1. Lowndes
2. Murphy
3. Ingall

Hard to believe that there is only 1 championship between the 3 of them this decade. After the 90's I really expected these 3 to shine. In all fairness their Bathurst results are what I would expect, and they have challenged for the title, but they seem to have been matched or even beaten by their much less experienced teams mates. I probably would still put all 3 of them in my top 10, just not in the first 3 spots.

Edited by Jazza, 31 December 2009 - 13:12.

[FPV GTHO]

1. Skaife
2. Ambrose
3. Lowndes
4. Whincup
5. Tander
6. Murphy
7. R. Kelly
8. Ingall
9. Winterbottom
10. Bright

Skaife nudges ahead of the others for his longevity in the sport and always being a figure. Ambrose, Lowndes, Whincup and Tander all have nothing splitting them, but i believe had Ambrose spent more than 5 years in the sport or made it to the end of the decade then he wouldve toppled Skaife for #1. Lowndes too couldve contended for #1 had he found success with Ford alot earlier. The rest have been a bit hot and cold with their performances, sometimes being championship contenders (or even winning one for Rick) and other times being anonymous.

[potmotr]

Problem is, that he never became champion, that's why it's hard to compare him to greats such as Skaife and Whincup. If the list had been about Bathurst he'd be #1 full-stop, but don't forget that Tander and Whincup are pretty decent around there as well...

Yeah, that's true.

Murphy has never got it together over a season long campaign.

Something always happens and he falls down the standings.

The strange thing is, on some tracks in the early 00s, Murphy was unbeatable.

Bathurst was one.

Pukekohe the other, he won there three or four times in a row.

[Professor Arturo]

Yeah make Skaife No 1 because of his "I am a Control Freak" TV ads.

[teejay]

Since V8's have grown significantly the last ten years I think we ought to have a thread ranking the top 10 drivers of this decade in the premier motor sport series in the Southern hemisphere.

1, Jamie Whincup
2, Mark Skaife
3, Marcos Ambrose
4, Craig Lowndes
5, Garth Tander
6, Greg Murphy
7, Russell Ingall
8, Will Davison
9, Rick Kelly
10, Mark Winterbottom

So now Ausies, it's your turn

Your top 5 is pretty good, but depending on personal bias and differing criteria they could easily move a spot or two from their current spots.