BTCC Top 10

1. Fabrizio Giovanardi

Took more advantage of Vauxhall's superior preparation than anyone else to stack up the points early on, collected five wins and kept his nose clean to score at least 23 points in each of the first nine rounds. A wonderful battling drive from 16th to third at Snetterton was indicative of his class.

2. Jason Plato

Won more races than anyone else (eight), took more poles than anyone else, led more races, miles and laps than anyone else. But yet, due largely to the unreliability of his SEAT Leon TDI, remained agonisingly just out of reach of Giovanardi all season. It would be a real shame if he did not return in '09.

3. Mat Jackson

Proved he's not just a wet-weather specialist by taking five wins and snatching second in the championship from Plato at the very last race of the year. Will be the complete package once he can get his head around qualifying with success ballast on board on a more regular basis.

4. Colin Turkington

Finished behind Jackson in the main championship, but beat him in the Independents by virtue of sticking to Team RAC's gameplan late in the season. A wonderful victory against the odds at Oulton Park (one of four for the Northern Irishman) was the highlight.

5. Adam Jones

Performed out of his skin all season for the tiny Air-Cool SEAT squad and was well-rewarded for his efforts with five podiums, even if a win proved elusive. Even looked like a surprise Independents champion before the BMWs of Jackson and Turkington came on song at mid-season.

6. Tom Onslow-Cole

Matured hugely in his first season with Vauxhall and delivered two poles and a pair of victories at Thruxton. Off-days were few and far between and his Knockhill weekend - during which he rode shotgun for Giovanardi twice - were perhaps his standout performances.

7. Gordon Shedden

Hugely unlucky to be denied a Thruxton double win by punctures, seventh in the championship was indicative of the kind of season the Scot had. A pre-season title contender (or so we thought) started well, but often found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time in a packed midfield.

8. Darren Turner

Once again Turner was excellent in qualifying, but finished in the top six in only 10 of the 30 races. Probably cost himself a few more wins by playing the role of dutiful teammate to Plato in the second half of the season, but thoroughly deserved his wins at Donington and Knockhill.

9. Matt Neal

Disappointingly only managed a single win (although it was a blinder in the Rockingham rain) after switching from Team Halfords to Vauxhall, and often found himself bogged down in midfield dogfights. Will be keen to put Giovanardi under more pressure next year.

10. Andrew Jordan

Stellar first season for the teenager resulted in two podium finishes and a thrilling battle with Giovanardi in race three at Thruxton for the lead. His ageing Honda Integra-R is being swapped for a Super 2000 Vectra next season. Watch him fly.