Is it the Driver or the Car...

[Canadian Formula 3 Championship]

Not that this relates to any such formula, rather it's about drivers, so I guess it's just a General Discussion, but I watched the WRC Rally of Germany on Speed the other night and I often wondered what class of motorsport really does produces the best drivers in the world?

The automatic response would say Formula 1 because it is the pinnacle of motorsport, but when I see the skill of Sebastian Loeb dancing that Citroen around at 100+ mph through a one lane mountain road with cliffs, trees, cows! etc. how can they all not be regarded as THE best.

In theory the best all-around driver should be one that adapts to all conditions and all surfaces just as the WRC demonstrates. But then again the extremely high g-forces, huge accelerations and decelerations, and high top speeds requires and enormous amount of skills as well.

So really what class does produce the best and whom is it, a Michael Schumacher or a Sebastian Loeb, maybe a Tom Kristensen? Don't dare say Jimmie Johnson or oval racing! But how great would it be to see all of them racing against each other in an IROC race.

[Kazis31]

As a big formula racing fan ,it hurts me to admit that all around best drivers are rally guys.
Sebastian Loeb has driven red bull F 1 in a test and wasn't far of on lap times from Vetel or Webber in first time out.
Raikonnen not getting anywhere in WRC for few years is also point proven.
However nothing handles like F1 and no other car gives you feeling like open wheeler.
They just are superior racing machines.
Nascar is one hell of an endurance race in cars with no brakes,suspension or aerodynamics.
But you will never see even an amateur racer in formula classes toss a helmet at moving fellow driver's car and get away with it. (that's just hick)
So back to skill list:
1.Rally.
2.F1,GP 2,GP 3,F 3 etc.formula classes.
3.Touring cars/Le mans./GT
4.Karting (yes karting those guys can really drive)
5.Oval/Nascar.

Come on guys ,put your opinion down .i know you want to.

[Canadian Formula 3 Championship]

...yeah, can you imagine a Formula 1 driver, (or any formula driver) throwing his helmet at another open-cockpit competitor, they would be suspended or banned by the FIA, especially considering the Surtees and Massa incidents from the last few years.

I couldn't even imagine an ALMS or WEC driver doing the same to another Prototype Coupe, it's unfathomable to picture it. But, NASCAR...it's all for show, it's like a motorsports form of WWF wrestling or W something whatever it's called. Bring back The MoonDogs!

[CGDerian]

I've been fortunate enough to work with several drivers across a variety of series and those who know him, all say Loeb is the best.

Watching a WRC car dance is one of the most awe-inspiring sights in motorsport...right up there with flat-track racing

-Craig

[Daryl DeArman]

There's car control, there's racecraft, there's mental and physical endurance. Different types of racing require different skillsets.

A long nighttime stint in a LMP car takes a certain skillset. As does cutting a perfect light in a TFD. Pulling off a slide job in the main event at Eldora, yet another.

It is quite possible that the 'best' racer in the world is in neither F1 or NASCRAP.

[Tim FF19]

Well isn't that why we have the Race Of Champions?

Loeb won it in 03', '04 and '08, 2nd in '02

Mattias Ekström beat Schumacher in '09

In'10 Filipe Albuquerque beat Loeb, Vettle made the semis

Last year Ogier beat Kristensen

Gordon and Johnson won the Nations Cup portion of the ROC in '02 so the NASCAR guys are very much in the group.

Cream always rises to the top...

[Alouette61]

...yeah, can you imagine a Formula 1 driver, (or any formula driver) throwing his helmet at another open-cockpit competitor, they would be suspended or banned by the FIA,

A few years back, two Canadians; Tag and Tracy gave it a good try in Champcars!!!

[Daryl DeArman]

Well isn't that why we have the Race Of Champions?

Loeb won it in 03', '04 and '08, 2nd in '02

Mattias Ekström beat Schumacher in '09

In'10 Filipe Albuquerque beat Loeb, Vettle made the semis

Last year Ogier beat Kristensen

Gordon and Johnson won the Nations Cup portion of the ROC in '02 so the NASCAR guys are very much in the group.

Cream always rises to the top...

But then that "Race of Champions" factors neither mental/physical endurance, nor racecraft.

[Daryl DeArman]

Could you imagine if that helmet came ricocheting off the grill and smacked Tony square in the face, or an official or worse yet a fan?

[F five hunj]

Could you imagine if that helmet came ricocheting off the grill and smacked Tony square in the face, or an official or worse yet a fan?

I WISH it would have hit Tony in the face. And he throws like a girl. I guess if you spend all day eating cheeseburgers instead of working out you have to wind up and use two hands to throw a 3lb carbon helmet.

[Jean-Sebastien Stoezel]

Seems like Sebastians always rise to the top

Loeb
Vettel
Ogier

And somehow
Bourdais
Buemi

Well isn't that why we have the Race Of Champions?

Loeb won it in 03', '04 and '08, 2nd in '02

Mattias Ekström beat Schumacher in '09

In'10 Filipe Albuquerque beat Loeb, Vettle made the semis

Last year Ogier beat Kristensen

Gordon and Johnson won the Nations Cup portion of the ROC in '02 so the NASCAR guys are very much in the group.

Cream always rises to the top...