Gridcrasher ranks the best drivers of the year

How did F1’s best compare with the top pilots from other series? Here’s part one of our end-of-year rankings…

10. Kyle Busch (Nascar)
The least popular man in Nascar won 21 races in 2008 - that’s an extraordinary figure. Indeed, Busch would be much higher than No.10 but for a disastrous Chase series (Nascar’s equivalent of a play-off system), when three mechanical problems ruined his chances of becoming champion.

9. Sebastian Vettel (F1)
After a miserable start to 2008 - four races, four retirements - Vettel showed why he is regarded so highly. He was brilliant in the wet, routinely excellent in qualifying and never afraid to mix it with the so-called bigger names of F1. Plus, he appears to have a sense of humour, which for a German driver is an unexpected bonus.

8. Mikko Hirvonen (World Rally)
The fast-improving Finn is the only man to keep Seb Loeb honest this season. That takes some doing. Hirvonen is a future world champion, although he may have to wait for Loeb to retire to get his chance.

7. Robert Kubica (F1)
Motorsport fans with short memories only seem to remember the final few grand prix of the season, when Handsome Bob did not cover himself in glory. But for most of 2008, Kubica was outstanding: very quick and very consistent, and in all that in a car that had no right to compete with McLaren and Ferrari. The fact he was in the running for the drivers’ title for almost all of the season should not be forgotten.

6. Scott Dixon (IndyCar)
The unassuming Kiwi won both the championship and the Indy 500 in 2008, and finally seems to believe in himself. At 28, his best years are ahead of him, although we doubt he’ll get the chance to prove himself in F1.

Part two will be posted tomorrow, so check back then for the top five…