Kostecki charges into Autosport’s prestigious top 50

The success of new Supercars champion Brodie Kostecki has made an impact overseas with the Erebus driver charging into the prestigious Autosport top 50 drivers of 2023.

Each year arguably the world’s most famous motorsport magazine, compiles a list of what it believes are the best 50 drivers currently on the planet.

After the most dominant Formula 1 season ever, it is no surprise to see Max Verstappen named as the leading driver.

But the list not only includes mega stars from Formula 1 and WRC, but three Aussies and five Kiwis.

A new name in it is Kostecki, who has shot up to #28 after securing a breakthrough Supercars crown with Erebus Motorsport.

Prior to this year, Kostecki’s name may never have been previously mentioned in Autosport towers, but his 2023 exploits were too good to ignore.

Brodie Kostecki was at his best at The Bend. Image: EDGE Photography

The then 25-year-old perfectly adapted to Gen3 and was easily the standout driver of the season, collecting season-high amounts of six wins, 12 other podium appearances and 10 pole positions.

It was a coming of age season for Kostecki, who displayed the heights of his speed, talent, composure and fearlessness under the highest of pressure.

Kostecki placed higher than two international Kiwis in Scott McLaughlin and Liam Lawson and ahead of big names such as Sergio Perez, Thierry Neuville, Kyle Larson and Sebastien Ogier.

Another Aussie charging into the top 50 was rookie sensation Oscar Piastri at #26.

Oscar Piastri impressed all during his rookie F1 season at McLaren. Image: Zak Mauger / LAT Images.

Piastri returns to the top 50 having dropped off due to not racing at all in 2022 after compiling the best rookie campaign since Lewis Hamilton’s famous 2007 debut.

Also at McLaren, the Brighton boy rapidly improved as the year went on, with highlights such as his Sprint win in Qatar, Sprint podium in Spa and backing up a front row start with a maiden Grand Prix podium at the tricky Suzuka.

Despite pushing his more experienced and settled teammate Lando Norris all year, the difference on Autosport’s list is stark, with the Brit 23 spots higher in third place.

Even after taking the NASCAR world by storm, Kostecki’s Supercars championship rival Shane van Gisbergen remained a prominent part of the top 50, but lost significant ground.

After his unparalleled run to the 2022 Supercars title, SVG secured an impressive top 10 in last year’s list.

Shane van Gisbergen during his final Supercars full time round at Adelaide in 2023. Image: Peter Norton EPIC Sports Photography

In 2023 the Kiwi not only remained a championship contender in a car he clearly did not get on with in an up and down year, but he defended his Peter Brock Trophy in dominant fashion despite managing issues.

However, van Gisbergen made the biggest splash in Chicago when he stunned the NASCAR world by smashing all the regular stars on slippery streets in his Cup Series debut, a feat not achieved in the previous 60 years.

Although he was unable to salute Supercars with another title, the way van Gisbergen leaped into NASCAR may make 2023 one of the biggest in his career and the fact that the Kiwi slid 10 spots in the top 50 has come under fire.

Esteemed Formula 1 pundit Will Buxton feels van Gisbergen should be in the top five in the world.

Shane van Gisbergen with the winner’s trophy in Chicago. Photo by Rusty Jarrett / NKP / LAT Images

“Always fun to look back over the year, but van Gisbergen is at least 15 places too low,” Buxton wrote on social media.

“Been one of the best, most adaptable, most impressive drivers on the planet for a good while now. Top 5.”

Interestingly van Gisbergen’s top 50 profile is currently the fourth most popular story on the website, even higher than the piece about the #1 Verstappen.

However, van Gisbergen is not the highest placed Kiwi on the list with FIA World Endurance Championship winner Brendon Hartley four spots ahead in #16.

Since leaving Formula 1 Hartley has carved out an impressive WEC career and in 2023 he took it to new heights, securing a fourth title.

Kiwi endurance racer Brendon Hartley took another WEC title in the #8 Toyota. Images: LAT

Across seven races Hartley’s Toyota claimed two wins, but finished second in four of the other five races across a consistent campaign.

The writer Gary Watkins believed Hartley’s stint after lunch on the Sunday of the 2023 Le Mans 24 Hours was his best.

Even after compiling a career-best third in the IndyCar championship, McLaughlin slid down three spots to #31 in the top 50.

This means the Team Penske star is the lowest placed of the Trans-Tasman drivers, two behind AlphaTauri F1 debutante and Super Formula winner Lawson in #29.

Unsurprisingly Verstappen was named as the best driver in the world with IndyCar champion Alex Palou rising 25 spots to second.

Norris sat third, ahead of WRC champion Kalle Rovanpera and Fernando Alonso, who rounded out the top five.

Main image by Mark Horsburgh

AUTO ACTION’s final issue of the year #1876 is out now in its digital form downloadable right here, and available in all good newsagents and stockists near you on Thursday, continuing on as Australia’s most trusted independent voice in motorsport. If you can’t get a copy locally, you can also subscribe to the latest issue of Auto Action print or digital edition of the magazine here.

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The team at AUTO ACTION wishes all readers and race fans a merry Christmas and happy new year!

 On the latest podcast, Bruce, PG and Andrew talk about their three motor racing highlights of 2023, and to balance it out… The three lowlights as well, not lowlifes Bruce!