When it comes to picking the world's top prototype drivers there's no need to look beyond the World Endurance Championship.
There can be no apologies for the fact that this list is made up entirely of LMP1 factory drivers racing in the WEC — if it wasn't, there would surely be something wrong.
The expansion of the P1 field with the arrival of Porsche explains why the United Sportscar Championship, the European Le Mans Series and even the LMP2 division of the WEC are not represented here.
Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 29th as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 70 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.
Gary, who also writes for Autoweek, Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.
The wild Austrian GP that launched a future champion Alan Jones's maiden grand prix victory was also the Shadow squad's sole win. Neither expected that result from a 14th-place starting position, but it would spur the Australian on his path to become a future Formula 1 world champion F1
Audi's forgotten winner that still holds a Le Mans record In 2010, a 39-year distance record was finally beaten at the Le Mans 24 Hours as Audi claimed its ninth win at the event. It achieved both with a car that's largely forgotten, the 'ugly duckling' R15-plus TDI WEC
What we'll miss about Le Mans this weekend This weekend should've marked the 88th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours - before coronavirus forced it to be delayed until September. We asked the great and the good of the sportscar paddock what they'll most miss about not being at Le Mans WEC
How Sauber created its greatest legacy In the latest part of the series celebrating 50 years of the much-loved Swiss outfit, we examine how Sauber's partnership with Mercedes and its famous junior drivers helped produce its greatest legacy in racing WEC
The wild Austrian GP that launched a future champion Alan Jones's maiden grand prix victory was also the Shadow squad's sole win. Neither expected that result from a 14th-place starting position, but it would spur the Australian on his path to become a future Formula 1 world champion F1
Why doing an Alonso won't work for Dovizioso in MotoGP Talks between Andrea Dovizioso and Ducati for 2021 have stalled again, with a sabbatical a considered option now for the Italian. Fernando Alonso proved there is a route back from his to F1, but Dovizioso can't expect the same in MotoGP... MotoGP
What's new in Formula E ahead of its return? Formula E's coronavirus-forced hiatus is almost at an end as racing is set to resume in August in Berlin. But the series hasn't had a quiet break, with controversy, driver changes and rule changes all dominating headlines FE
Red Bull edges closer to Mercedes as rain threat clouds order One week after the 2020 season started at the Red Bull Ring, the cars are running there again thanks to Formula 1's pandemic-shifted calendar. But this time around practice signs are looking better for the home team, with rain chaos also predicted F1
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