Best British driver?

luke · 22 Dec 2004, 13:45 (Ref:1185920)

Seing as it's topic of the month who is / was the best British F1 driver of all time?

Mike Hawthorn
champion '58

Stirling Moss

Peter Collins

Tony Brooks

Graham Hill
champion '62 and '68

Jim Clark
champion '63 and 65

John Surtees
champion '64

Jackie Stewart
champion '69, '71 and '73

James Hunt
champion '76

Nigel Mansell
champion '92

Damon Hill
champion '96

Eddie Irvine

David Coulthard

Jenson Button

I would have to say the British driver of a ll time would have to Jim Clark, no doubt about it, easierly one of the greastest drivers of all time.

ASCII Man · 22 Dec 2004, 14:00 (Ref:1185936)

Personal Top 5:

Jim Clark
Jackie Stewart
Stirling Moss
Graham Hill
James Hunt

There you have it, folks.

pirenzo · 22 Dec 2004, 14:11 (Ref:1185942)

1. Jim Clark
2=. Jackie Stwewart
2=. Stirling Moss
4. Graham Hill
5. John Surtees

luke · 22 Dec 2004, 14:18 (Ref:1185946)

Personal Top 5:

Jim Clark
Jackie Stewart
Stirling Moss
Graham Hill
Nigel Mansell

ASCII Man I agree with your top 5 except for Hunt.

Marshal · 22 Dec 2004, 14:23 (Ref:1185951)

Too close to call between Moss and Clark, with Brooks and Stewart just behind

ASCII Man · 22 Dec 2004, 14:23 (Ref:1185952)

Quote:

Originally Posted by luke

ASCII Man I agree with your top 5 except for Hunt.

I just like the guy

ensign14 · 22 Dec 2004, 14:25 (Ref:1185953)

Jim Clark. Anyone who can win the BTCC title in his weekends off from winning the World Title is just beyond compare.

**Peter Mallett** · 22 Dec 2004, 14:26 (Ref:1185954)

Ooh now, you see I differ with most on Clark and Hill. Basically Jim had everything, skill, talent and timing. Graham on the other hand had to work seriously hard for his position and for me that makes him my No1.

So;

Hill G
Clark J
Moss S
Mansell N
Brooks T (Or Hunt J).

(We are just talking F1 here aren't we?)

Kicking-back · 22 Dec 2004, 14:46 (Ref:1185959)

Jim Clark
Stirling Moss
Jackie Stewart
Nigel Mansell

rbs · 22 Dec 2004, 14:54 (Ref:1185962)

Jim Clark, be it in F1, F2, Saloons,GT, Sports cars (he made the Lotus 30 look driveable)or rallying he was always competitive.

paddy · 22 Dec 2004, 16:53 (Ref:1186031)

Jim Clark
Graham Hill
Nigel Mansell
Jackie Stewart
James Hunt

I've left out Moss because he didn't win the champonship. I know you oldoues will go mad, but I think the world title is only way of really comparing.

luke · 22 Dec 2004, 17:17 (Ref:1186053)

At first I thought all you lot needed a trip to the dockers, with leaving old Nige out, but then again it you compare him to the others, in my view he only slips into the top 5.

Kicking-back · 22 Dec 2004, 17:34 (Ref:1186067)

Quote:

Originally Posted by paddy

I've left out Moss because he didn't win the champonship. I know you oldoues will go mad, but I think the world title is only way of really comparing.

I'm not an "oldie" - but, with respect, that is one of the most ludicrous things I've ever read!

f1manoz · 22 Dec 2004, 19:17 (Ref:1186132)

Jim Clark

End thread.

luke · 22 Dec 2004, 19:27 (Ref:1186138)

Quote:

Originally Posted by paddy

I've left out Moss because he didn't win the champonship. I know you oldoues will go mad, but I think the world title is only way of really comparing.

Not really because he came close several times.

**Peter Mallett** · 22 Dec 2004, 20:05 (Ref:1186177)

It's a very good point. Old Stirling was a minter

He should have at least one WDC but he sportingly gave that one to Mike Hawthorn, who also deserved it.

Stirling is the epitomy of sportsmanship. He had the talent, capability, wherewithal and outright doggedeness to achieve, but (and this is very important) he would never allow his ambition to get in the way of the sport. A lot of people decry him for that but gawd just think of the self discipline. An absolute hero in any right thinking person's book.

**Peter Mallett** · 22 Dec 2004, 20:19 (Ref:1186196)

Quote:

Originally Posted by luke

Seing as it's topic of the month who is / was the best British F1 driver of all time?

Mike Hawthorn
champion '58

Stirling Moss

Peter Collins

Tony Brooks

Graham Hill
champion '62 and '68

Jim Clark
champion '63 and 65

John Surtees
champion '64

Jackie Stewart
champion '69, '71 and '73

James Hunt
champion '76

Nigel Mansell
champion '92

Damon Hill
champion '96

Eddie Irvine

David Coulthard

Jenson Button

I would have to say the British driver of a ll time would have to Jim Clark, no doubt about it, easierly one of the greastest drivers of all time.

Luke, I'm intrigued with your post. You obviously have no direct references for Peter Collins (a personal hero) or Mike Hawthorn, Jim Clark et al, so how did you come to your list?

MikeHoyer · 22 Dec 2004, 20:22 (Ref:1186200)

For me it's a close call between Stewart and Clark. However, Moss is up there aswell, as he is known for being so versatile in other cars/series, although so were a lot of drivers back in the day...

luke · 22 Dec 2004, 20:30 (Ref:1186207)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Luke, I'm intrigued with your post. You obviously have no direct references for Peter Collins (a personal hero) or Mike Hawthorn, Jim Clark et al, so how did you come to your list?

I was going to leave it at that, but I decided to offer an opionon, then I gave my top 5.
I could have given my view on them all but what would be the point?

Steve Wilkinson · 22 Dec 2004, 20:32 (Ref:1186211)

My vote on the top five would be as follows:

1. Jim Clark - no question the greatest.

2. Graham Hill - winning TWO World Championships, the Indy 500 and Le Mans

3. Stirling Moss - greatest driver never to be World Champion

4. John Surtees - World Champion on two and four wheels

5. Brian Redman - the greatest ever Sports Car driver

Personally Paddy I think you are NUTS! You can't have a top five that only restricts the choice to the last ten years. Mind you judguing by your comments I gather your attention span is closer to ten seconds

**Peter Mallett** · 22 Dec 2004, 20:39 (Ref:1186217)

Quote:

Originally Posted by luke

I was going to leave it at that, but I decided to offer an opionon, then I gave my top 5.
I could have given my view on them all but what would be the point?

Personally I'd like to read your view. Simply because as an old bugger you seem to me to have listed all the worthy contenders. I believe nobody has actually added any names.

The romantics might add Innes Ireland of course but none have so far. Then again Peter Gethin (a Grand Prix winner was no Mr average either).

luke · 22 Dec 2004, 20:43 (Ref:1186219)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Personally I'd like to read your view. Simply because as an old bugger you seem to me to have listed all the worthy contenders. I believe nobody has actually added any names.

The romantics might add Innes Ireland of course but none have so far. Then again Peter Gethin (a Grand Prix winner was no Mr average either).

Funnily enough Peter I was going to mention, Innes and Peter.

Ok I will give my opinon, but it will take ages as I have to type using the on-screen.

Rich R · 22 Dec 2004, 21:21 (Ref:1186250)

i'd put jim clark at number 1, but i really have no clue who else to put in, or more importantly, leave out of a top 5. we have just had such a depth of talented drivers from these isles, i don't beleive any other country could match, especially post second world war.
i would say however that tony brooks is probably the most underated driver from britain

**Spudgun** · 22 Dec 2004, 23:09 (Ref:1186346)

It has to be Jim Clark.

But if it was the most entertaining British driver, Nige would win hands down!

Valve Bounce · 22 Dec 2004, 23:19 (Ref:1186352)

Quote:

Originally Posted by paddy

I've left out Moss because he didn't win the champonship. I know you oldoues will go mad, but I think the world title is only way of really comparing.

I don't think anyone will go mad - it seems the poster of this might have been so afflicted tho'

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