The Best British International Driver?
Discussion
After today my feeling on this lies at one door mat and one door mat only, he excelled in an enviroment and situation where everyone else would have given up.
Gary Paffett..........now he deserves a drive in the top flight, but then again over coming a lap deficit (sp) in the toughest tintop series on the planet maybe hes already there.
Welldone Gary, now the Championship!.
Gary Paffett..........now he deserves a drive in the top flight, but then again over coming a lap deficit (sp) in the toughest tintop series on the planet maybe hes already there.
Welldone Gary, now the Championship!.
Amazing race today at the Norisring, although the D in DTM should now stand for Demolition as there was so much carnage about, even the old master Bernd Scheinder was a bit naughty.
Surely justice this year for Gary after having the titel in effect taken from him after the DQ at the Laustizring due to a fuel problem (not enough in the car at the end to test).
Surely justice this year for Gary after having the titel in effect taken from him after the DQ at the Laustizring due to a fuel problem (not enough in the car at the end to test).
When Norbert Haug was questioned (in german) about the youngsters (Green and someone else) knocking out the GP stars (Alesi, Hakinnen) he trotted out the party line about being pleased with the MB win, but his expression told otherwise - priceless.
BTW did you see Mansell et al in "legends" display ?
BTW did you see Mansell et al in "legends" display ?
rubystone said:
Jason Plato for me - thumbs up every time he nerfs Ivan Mullet off
Plato is an egotistical idiot who usually has to run someone off the track to overtake. He's not a bad driver, but nowhere near the best - put him in single-seaters where contact is best avoided and I bet he'd be mid-pack at best.
IMHO, Neal, Turkington and Chilton are all better Brit drivers than him...Eaves and Collard probably too! And they have ALL proven they can race cleanly, giving the other racers room to race when side-by-side...I have only ever seen Plato drive others onto the grass in that situation.
Priaulx and Thompson both deserve a look-in - Thommo jumped from tin-top to rally and back again and looked happy doing both.
But I agree with the comments about Paffett and Wilson...both class and overlooked in this country, due to the series' they run in.
FWIW my comment was tongue in cheek but you're still totally wrong IMHO. He's a skilled highly gifted race driver with a lot of nous. Turkington and Chilton are not experienced enough yet and Matt Neal is good, I agree, but his father's an absolute pain in the arse and this tends to cloud Matt's career.
Oh...and Jason Plato's been there and done it as regards single seaters.....and in Renault Sport Spiders....quite a similar career profile to Andy Priaulx as it happens.
Oh...and Jason Plato's been there and done it as regards single seaters.....and in Renault Sport Spiders....quite a similar career profile to Andy Priaulx as it happens.
Yvan Muller has to be one of the best touring car drivers around... his car control is phenomenal (see that photo of his slide at thruxton (I think) that I can't find right now...). When I watch the BTCC at brands everybody boos him and cheers when people pass/punt him off... I don't get it.
Saw the thruxton slide...most drivers would be proud to recover that in a rwd car, but in a fwd car it was frankly unbelievable...he'd gone so far past full-lock it looked to be all over!!!
I think the antipathy towards Muller stems from 3 things:-
1) He's French;
2) He's good and not British (bad combo...just look at Wimbledon in any round with a brit in!!!);
3) He's not humble.
But he's probably the best driver in that series now Thommo's gone...and even there it was a close call.
I think the antipathy towards Muller stems from 3 things:-
1) He's French;
2) He's good and not British (bad combo...just look at Wimbledon in any round with a brit in!!!);
3) He's not humble.
But he's probably the best driver in that series now Thommo's gone...and even there it was a close call.
I don't think Clark or Hill featured much in F500 racing. Hill made his way in the Lotus team by joining as a mechanic and most of his early races were in Lotus XI and Lotus 7 sports cars. Clark was really too young for thr F500 era. By the time he was ready to try his hand at open wheel single seaters, Formula Junior was the stepping stone.
Hill, of course, also won the Le Mans 24 Hour Race in 1972. Clark avoided Le Mans at every opportunity as he hated the notion of endurance racing.
It was "easier" to be an international racer in those days compared to today because drivers competed in lots of different categories in one season. In 1965 Clark was racing in F1, Indycars, Saloons and even the odd rally.
Hill, of course, also won the Le Mans 24 Hour Race in 1972. Clark avoided Le Mans at every opportunity as he hated the notion of endurance racing.
It was "easier" to be an international racer in those days compared to today because drivers competed in lots of different categories in one season. In 1965 Clark was racing in F1, Indycars, Saloons and even the odd rally.
Muller has unbelievable car control, absolutely fantastic - that's why he's virtually unbeatable on ice. But Havoc has hit the nail on the head with his list IMHO. He can be forgiven for being French (The Citroen SM is a wicked car after all) but it's his overwhelming arrogance that I can't stand...
rubystone said:
...but it's his overwhelming arrogance that I can't stand...
That seems to be a common theme amongst "unpopular" but very good sportsmen and -women. Joe/Jo Public seems to expect his/her "heroes" to be all-conquering but still humble and modest.
Personally, if I was THAT good at something (we're talking Schumacher/Loeb/Muller levels), I can't see any way I'd stop my head swelling!
But seriously...to get to the top of your profession requires not just ability but dedication and commitment, and the sense of achievement must be immense...I think it's "unfair" of society to expect them to retain modesty in such circumstances.
...which probably explains why I dislike Plato...he acts like a spoilt child, not like someone supremely confident in their ability...
...ah, there's a difference I can perhaps relate...to get to be that good, you've usually got a LOT of self-confidence. if you don't know how to "manage" it, that can come across as arrogance, hence turn-off viewers/fans.
But someone who does know how to "manage" their public face can give a good soundbite, yet off-camera act-up something chronic...and which current BTCC driver has more time in-front of a camera than any other?!?
[quote=havoc]
But he's probably the best driver in that series now Thommo's gone.quote]
Well, it's not as if he has much competition!!! If, as he states, he goes to WTCC next year, then he will find it hard not being the focus of whatever team he goes to. He has VXR 100% behind him, probably to the detriment of Turkington & Smith, if he went to WTCC he has to expect that he will lose some of that.
Then we'll see what he's all about...
BTW, not all the touring car greats are up the own arses. Aiello and Rydell for starters, but Menu, that's a different story...
But he's probably the best driver in that series now Thommo's gone.quote]
Well, it's not as if he has much competition!!! If, as he states, he goes to WTCC next year, then he will find it hard not being the focus of whatever team he goes to. He has VXR 100% behind him, probably to the detriment of Turkington & Smith, if he went to WTCC he has to expect that he will lose some of that.
Then we'll see what he's all about...
BTW, not all the touring car greats are up the own arses. Aiello and Rydell for starters, but Menu, that's a different story...
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