The top 10 Superleague drivers of 2009

1. Craig Dolby

Tottenham Hotspur

Starts: 15
Poles: 0
Wins: 1

Deserves the number one spot for his swashbuckling, entertaining driving
style alone. His pass on Valles, around the outside of the first corner, was
the pass of the year - until he passed Buurman and Valles in one move at
Jarama! Wonder how he'd go in a GP2 car?

2. Adrian Valles

Liverpool

Starts: 15
Poles: 0
Wins: 2

Almost flawless performance from a deserving champion. Started the season
with the best car and made hay with it, Jenson Button-style. Definitely lost
some pace towards the end of the season, but switched into damage-limitation mode. Classy racer who you wouldn¹t bet against winning it again next year.

3. Sebastien Bourdais

Sevilla FC

Starts: 8
Poles: 1
Wins: 2

We all know he¹s prone to a moan, so football is a perfect 'match' for him.
When he wasn't whining, he was winning. A bit like Sir Alex, then. Joined
the series halfway through, but was a factor in all the races he contested.

4. Esteban Guerrieri

Al-Ain, Olympiacos and Sevilla FC

Starts: 11
Poles: 1
Wins: 2

Played for three different clubs during the season, but gave his all each
time. Give this kid some consistency of surroundings and he might just
deliver the title. Won for Al-Ain and Olympiacos, and would¹ve made it a
hat-trick for Sevilla but for a battery failure at Donington.

5. Max Wissel

FC Basel

Starts: 14
Poles: 0
Wins: 1

Like Dolby, this youngster has flown under the radar and turned out to be a
star. Not at all fazed by step up from Formula Renault. Donington win was a
high point, but he scored three other podium finishes too. Keep an eye on
him in the future.

6. Yelmer Buurman

Anderlecht

Starts: 15
Poles: 0
Wins: 2

Just what you'd expect from this seasoned performer: Solid, unspectacular
yet highly effective. Bounced back well after an exploding gearbox at Donington ruined his title bid. Ended season as the fastest man at Jarama, and should be a strong title contender if he carries on that form.

7. Giorgio Pantano

AC Milan

Starts: 14
Poles: 0
Wins: 1

Won reverse-grid race at Magny-Cours, but the Azerti team was not in the same league as Hitech, ADR and Zakspeed. Even the GP2 champ couldn't drive around that fact. Car should have suited his style, but he never seemed to thrive with it. We expected more.

8. Antonio Pizzonia

Corinthians

Starts: 15
Poles: 3
Wins: 0

Three poles. Three fastest laps. No wins. Ah, spot the problem? Often the
fastest out there, but if he'd realised his potential he'd be a multiple F1
winner by now, wouldn't he? Technical failures, disastrous pitstops and
accidents blighted his season. On the bright side, pace is not a problem.

9. Tristan Gommendy

FC Porto

Starts: 12
Poles: 0
Wins: 1

Bit of an enigma, this chap. Won at Donington when given a clear run, but
stood down for Estoril in favour of local hero Alvaro Parente, who won on
debut - that must've hurt! Always there or thereabouts, but never quite on
the ultimate pace to dominate a race weekend like team-mate Valles could.

10. Ho-Pin Tung

Atletico Madrid and Galatasaray

Starts: 13
Poles: 0
Wins: 1

Mid-season transfer from Atletico Madrid to Galatasaray ended with emphatic
victory at Jarama. Second at Zolder too. But suffered too many mechanical
gremlins to mention. When he gets the car he wants beneath him, his
confidence blossoms and this former German F3 champ can be a proper
contender.