Top 10 International Racing Drivers 2023
2023 has been another year of highs and lows for many across a variety of different disciplines from international single-seaters, endurance, rally and touring car racing.
Once again the cream has risen to the top in a season defined by excellence where old champions have been reached new heights and new stars have proven themselves in the heat of competition.
Who has shone throughout 2023 as we recount the top 10 international racing drivers of the year and look forward to 2024?
- Max Verstappen (NED) — Formula 1 World Champion
2023 has been another record-breaking season for the Dutchman as he secured a third Formula 1 World Championship crown with a scarcely believable 19 Grand Prix wins out of 22 (equivalent to a 86.36% win rate, beating Alberto Ascari’s record that stood since 1952).
After a somewhat shaky start to the season where he split wins with teammate Sergio Perez in the first four rounds, Verstappen was imperious thereafter following a comfortable victory at the Miami GP despite starting from 9th on the grid. From there, Max could seemingly do no wrong and triumphed in all conditions and circumstances apart from an off-colour weekend in Singapore where Ferrari secured the only non-Red Bull win of the season.
2. Kalle Rovenpera (FIN) — World Rally Champion
The Finnish youngster triumphed in another incredible year in the World Rally Championship to add a second WRC crown to his trophy cabinet.
After an unbelievable 2022 title, Rovenpera was more of a known quantity in 2023 but he still powered through with three rally wins and five further podium finishes to beat his teammate Elvyn Evans to the title.
Rovenpera will head into 2024 as the clear favourite for the WRC crown yet again.
3. Johan Kristofferson (SWE) — World Rallycross and Extreme E Champion
Another season and more success for Swedish superstar Johan Kristofferson as he secured the WRX crown for the fifth time and the third consecutive series’ title.
Highlights included the three wins to start the campaign in Portugal, Norway and Sweden and added two more and a further podium finish to the remaining four races.
In Extreme E, a nailbitting end to the campaign saw Johan triumph alongside compatriot Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky in a dramatic season finale showdown at the Copper X Prix in Antofagasta, Chile where they beat Acciona Sainz after disaster struck the Spanish outfit when the title was seemingly within reach.
This now means that Johan representing Rosberg X-treme Racing has won two of the first three Extreme E titles, concluding a very successful season for the Swede.
4. Fernando Alonso (ESP) — 4th in Formula 1
2023 was a welcome return to form for the tenacious Spanish legend as Alonso secured fourth in the drivers championship against the odds with spirited driving throughout the season.
Alonso started the season off in stirling fashion with six podiums in the first seven races, including a second place finish in Monte-Carlo.
But Aston Martin were not able to keep up the rate of development against the might of Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren which meant Alonso wasn’t able to get the win he so thoroughly deserved.
Despite this, his year was a series of highlight reels that included a ridiculously breathtaking move on Lewis Hamilton at race one in Bahrain and a 40-lap battle with Sergio Perez in the Red Bull which ended with Alonso repassing the Mexican on the final lap.
5. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) — 3rd in Formula 1
Despite not getting the plaudits that Verstappen or Alonso got, Hamilton put in a solid 2023 campaign to finish third in the standings.
In contrast to last year, the 7-times world champion soon accepted his fate and got down to business with a series of consistent results throughout.
His highlights included a home podium at the British GP and second places (on the road at least) in USA and Mexico.
For a time, Hamilton even looked to challenge Perez for runners-up spot but ultimately fell short following a disappointing outing at Interlogas.
Hamilton and Mercedes will be hoping that there will be more to come in 2024.
6. Jake Dennis (GBR) — Formula E World Champion
2023 was the year that Dennis realised the potential that he had shown over the previous two seasons.
In his rookie campaign, Dennis headed into the final round of the year with a chance of the title until a reliability issue cost him that opportunity at the final race.
After a second season that failed to deliver a title challenge, 2023 presented him with the opportunity he yearned for — fighting the Porsche factory outfit initally, and then with both the Jaguar works and customer outfit Envision Racing to secure his maiden title in dramatic fashion on the streets of London.
Dennis was the consistent champion who scored points throughout and made sure he kept his cool as others were losing theirs to become the first British FE champ and give Andretti their first title in the all-electric series.
7. Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT) — Dakar Rally Champion
The trecharous Dakar Rally saw Nasser triumph yet again in the car class — the rally legend is now a five time Dakar Rally winner, this time for Toyota Gazoo Racing.
The Saudi Arabian course provided the usual array of tough terrain, desert dunes and rocky faces for the competitors to navigate.
The 53-year-old Qatari rally legend once again showed his class as he took another Dakar win to further cement his place in the history books by prevailing in one of the most toughest challenges in world motorsport.
8. Sebastien Buemi (CH) — World Endurance Champion
Despite falling short at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 2023 saw Buemi and Toyota have another successful WEC season by picking up yet another premier class crown.
Buemi and Toyota had a tougher time this year than previous seasons with the challenge coming from Ferrari as well as the sister car, but the experience of the Swiss racer prevailed to guide Toyota #8 towards another title.
The disappointment of losing out at the Circuit de la Sarthe was all too apparent and despite the sister car winning the next two events, Buemi used his experience to guide them to win in Bahrain and secure his fifth WEC crown.
His exploits in Formula E were less successful this year where he ended 6th in the World Championship and at the final round in London, he potentially cost his teammate Nick Cassidy a shot at his maiden FE title after contact between the pair.
9. Mitch Evans (NZL) — 3rd in Formula E
Another year of Mitch Evans brilliance has gone unrewarded as the Jaguar TCS Racing finished 2023 without the title yet again.
Despite 2 poles, 4 wins and 3 other podiums, Evans finished third in the standings and missed out on the title he so thoroughly deserves. This means that he has gone into the finale with a shot at the title in the past four years but come away empty-handed.
This was mostly down to his somewhat poor form and horrendous luck to start last year as he picked up 11 points in the first five races — without which the title could have been his.
Evans once again proved that he is world-class and will be going into 2024 hoping that this is his year.
10. Norbert Michelisz (HUN) — WTCR Champion
The renamed TCR World Tour is the premier Touring Car Championship in all of international motorsport which is no mean feat and this year, honours went to one Norbert Michelisz.
The 39-year-old Hungarian started the year in fantastic form with pole and race victory at the first race at Portimao.
Despite tough competition from the likes of Yann Ehrlacher, Rob Huff , Frederic Vervisch and Mikel Azcona, Michelisz prevailed at the final round in Macau by a 10-point margin over Ehrlacher — concluding a fantastic year from the Hungarian touring car ace.
