BTCC Action driver of the year

After another extremely competitive season’s racing it is time to select the driver of the year award.  Rather than select our own top ten drivers of the year, we are putting the vote to you, our website readers. Select from the poll below who you feel was the most complete driver this year, someone who put in exceptional performances all year around or who really surprised you this season.

Meanwhile BTCC Action will present you the shortlist of drivers who we feel most deserve the accolade.

Fabrizio Giovanardi
The Italian once again displayed exemplary speed and control when needed to take his second consecutive British Touring Car title. Despite not winning the most races the Vauxhall driver still had one of the best finishing records of anyone this year, and only fell short of finishing every round in the points at the final meeting.

Jason Plato
Would have mounted a stronger challenge to Giovanardi’s title defence if the Leon’s diesel engine hadn’t been so unreliable. Persevered anyway, taking the most race wins of anyone, although struggled to score highly enough when the car’s reliability wasn’t the problem. Will hope to be back in 2009 to mount another strong challenge on the title and to recapture the elusive second championship to add to his 2001 crown.

Mat Jackson
Finished the season as the top BMW driver, also pipping Plato to second in the driver’s standings in the final race of the year. Put in some stunning drives from further back on the grid and proved to be a master of damp and wet conditions in the rear-wheel drive BMW. A win at Silverstone from13th on the grid and a second at Croft from 18th were highlights of his year.

Colin Turkington
Didn’t begin the season strongly by spinning twice in the opening round, but drove consistently thereon, taking four wins and being the only driver to finish every race (and hasn’t retired from a race since June 2007). Finishing outside the points several times during the year due to driver error probably cost him a more serious chance at the overall championship, but still managed to take the independents title for the second year in a row.

Tom Onslow-Cole
Came of age during 2008 and showed his strength as a team player at Vauxhall. Only took two wins in the end, during an extremely impressive Thruxton weekend, but was always there in the thick of the action and he finished all races except Round 3 where he had one of the biggest accidents of the year, and Round 6 at the soaking wet Rockingham race where he, like many others, slid off the track in the atrocious conditions.

Steven Kane
In his debut season in the BTCC Kane really showed his true colours, delivering some stunning drives and only just missing out on his and Motorbase’s first win. Him and the team really came on strong towards the end of the year, culminating in Motorbase being the top scoring outfit at the final meeting, beating even the works teams. Finished the season with three second place finishes and should be able to go that one better in 2009 - Kane was recently quoted as saying that he believes he can go for the championship next year.

Andrew Jordan
A stunning debut season for the 19-year old, who twice stood on the podium. Armed with one of the older cars on the grid, the BTC-Spec Honda Integra, Jordan drove like an experienced pro when he was handed front-row grid slots no less than three times. Turned tow of these into podium positions, whilst he was dealt a cruel blow when challenging for what could have been his first podium. Jordan will be relishing the chance to drive the much newer and proven Vauxhall Vectra next year, and could score his first ever win if everything falls into place.

Voting is now open and closes at the end of the year. You can comment on the results below, and if you believe we have missed anyone out who deserves the award.

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