TouringCarTimes’ Top 30 drivers of 2015: 20 to 11

Here is the second part of TouringCarTimes’ staff’s rundown of the top 30 drivers of the 2015 season. Looking at the performances of the drivers this year, we’ll go through over three days who we think were the top touring car drivers this season across the major national and international V8 Supercars, BTCC, WTCC, DTM, TCR and STCC series. 30 to 21 can be found here.

20 – Hugo Valente (WTCC – Campos Racing – 2 Podiums)
Last year’s position: #23

Valente was the fastest of the Chevrolet contingent by some way in 2015, putting the Cruze at the front of the grid against the might of Citroen on numerous occassions this year, although these often weren’t converted into race results. A stunning lap at the Nordschleife put him second on the grid, and near the top of the list of indies who should be in manufacturer seats.

19 – Jamie Green (DTM – Audi Team Rosberg – 4 Wins)

Green started the year with three victories in four races, and it all seemed set for him, especially, with the Audi RS 5 DTM being the strongest car on the grid. However, the Briton completely disappeared in the mid season, costing him dearly in his title bid. A strong result in Hockenheim allowed Green to claim the honour of “vice champion”, his best result to-date in the DTM.

18 – Jamie Whincup (V8SC – Triple Eight – 8 Wins)
Last year’s position: #2

A surprisingly weak mid-point of the season and three disastrous endurance weekends saw the otherwise impeccable Whincup drop to fifth in the championship this year after four consecutive titles. An impressive end to the season with five victories ought to put end to doubts to whether he will be back at the front for the 2016 title fight.

17 – Tiago Monteiro (WTCC – Honda – 2 Wins)
Last year’s position: #14

The Portuguese driver had another strong season with Honda, scoring two victories, which would have been three if it weren’t for a ride height failure in Thailand. Often playing the reverse grid game, strategically the best play for Honda, paid dividends, but that underlies his true one-lap pace and race performances.

16 – Shane Van Gisbergen (V8SC – Tekno Autosports – 2 Wins)
Last year’s position: #5

Van Gisbergen took a step back result-wise this year and visited the podium “only” seven times compared to 13 times in 2014, dropping from second to fourth in the championship. Next year will see the Kiwi joining Whincup and Craig Lowndes at Triple Eight, promising an exciting battle.

15 – Mattias Ekström (DTM – Audi Sport Abt – 2 Wins)
Last year’s position: #9

The Swede was once again key for Audi Sport. Despite the struggles of the RS 5 DTM with performance weights, Ekström drove hard on the track, keeping Wehrlein under threat all season. Despite reaching the finale with a 37-point deficit against Wehrlein, Ekström’s strength and hard fighting nature made all bets difficult right until the end.

14 – Sébastien Loeb (WTCC – Citroen Racing – 4 Wins)
Last year’s position: #16

Sébastien Loeb had another strong season, now his last in the WTCC. “Officially” taking his first pole position at Paul Ricard (his first was at the same circuit a year before, before a technical irregularity saw him stripped of it), along with four wins, the results were strong, and nearly overhauled touring car veteran Yvan Muller for second in the standings, missing out by just one point.

13 – Gabriele Tarquini (WTCC – Honda – 4 Podiums)

2015 saw renewed form from Tarquini, particularly in the latter part of the season when the Honda’s pace was now much closer to Citroen’s. Eschewing tactical qualifying and taking the fight to Citroen directly saw the Italian leave 2015 without a win on his scorecard for the first time in history, but epic battles such as that with José María López in China showed he still knows how to race at the front even if not in the best car.

12 – Thed Björk (STCC – Volvo Polestar Racing – 5 Wins)
Last year’s position: #17

Björk made history by claiming a third straight STCC title this year and continues to be high on confidence, seemingly unable to make mistakes. His sole non-score came at Falkenberg this year due to broken suspension, his first DNF in two years. Next year will be a new challenge for Björk, joining Polestar Cyan Racing and Volvo in the WTCC.

11 – Norbert Michelisz (WTCC – Zengo Motorsport – 1 Win)
Last year’s position: #7

A victory at home looks like the season’s highlight on paper for the popular Hungarian, but being the only driver all year to beat a Citroen on pace at in qualifying at Motegi could also be a strong contender for performance of the year. Although never having his eye on the independents’ title, it came his way anyway, and across the season he was again the fastest of all the Honda drivers, despite driving for the small Hungarian privateer Zengo team.