The top 10 WTCC drivers of 2009

1. Yvan Muller

WTCC starts: 24
Poles: 1
Wins: 4
Championship position: 2nd

You could throw a napkin over the first five drivers this year, and uncharacteristic mistakes at Brands and Oschersleben cost Muller a lot of points, yet he was still the man to beat. Always a victory threat and just unflappable - particularly when chased by quicker cars.

2. Rob Huff

WTCC starts: 24
Poles: 2
Wins: 3
Championship position: 5th

Probably the only one of those consistently showing race-winning pace not to make any costly errors. When the Chevy was capable of it, he won - sometimes dominated - and when it wasn't he probably still punched above its weight. He's a serious threat to the world's best touring car drivers.

3. Augusto Farfus

WTCC starts: 24
Poles: 3
Wins: 6
Championship position: 3rd

Six wins is a slightly misleading stat, given that they all came in reverse grid races, but Farfus was probably still the fastest driver in the series. He will win titles, but for now he's having to charge back from incidents too often.

4. Gabriele Tarquini

WTCC starts: 24
Poles: 5
Wins: 3
Championship position: 1st

The champion had a relatively quiet first two thirds of the year, coming alive in the title fight after team-mate Muller's lean spell mid-summer. His string of poles showed that there's still plenty of pace in there, but there was more than his share of driving into people as well.

5. Andy Priaulx

WTCC starts: 24
Poles: 0
Wins: 2
Championship position: 4th

There wasn't the dominance this season - save for a SEAT-crushing drive at Oschersleben. Drove as well as ever, and there were plenty of times when he was the fastest man on the track, but more often than not he was producing it to come from behind. The talk was of a closer Schnitzer/RBM relationship this year but Priaulx was often a step behind Farfus.

6. Jorg Muller

WTCC starts: 24
Poles: 0
Wins: 0
Championship position: 6th

The speed was there in abundance. Muller was, like Priaulx, often the fastest at a given time but was also usually too far down the order for it to matter. He's unlucky to record his first winless season in touring cars, especially as he spent half his year slowing down to give wins and reverse grid poles to Farfus.

7. Alain Menu

WTCC starts: 24
Poles: 1
Wins: 2
Championship position: 10th

Hot or cold. When the mood took him, he was right up there. Untouchable at Brands Hatch and quick at Pau and Macau, but too distant elsewhere. He had more than his share of misfortune, but simply didn't get as much out of the Cruze as Huff.

8. Rickard Rydell

WTCC starts: 24
Poles: 0
Wins: 1
Championship position: 7th

Fast at times but still nowhere near the title fight. He was right up there in South America but had a terrible time at Marrakech, Pau and Valencia and never recovered. Another who suffered from having to be a team player from mid-season.

9. Tom Coronel

WTCC starts: 24
Poles: 0
Wins: 0
Championship position: 14th

Yet again the only independent to get among the factory cars on a regular basis. There was no fairytale win like in 2008, but Oschersleben was a weekend spent at the sharp end and clever driving earned more points at Imola. Would fly in a new car.

10. James Thompson

WTCC starts: 8
Poles: 0
Wins: 0
Championship position: 17th

He may only have contested eight races but he brought real potential to Lada. His class is dragging the Priora forward and two sixth places at Imola were a highlight. A shame he was ruled out of Macau before the races.