Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are the AUTOSPORT World Driver Rankings?

    The AUTOSPORT World Driver Rankings is a system of rating drivers based on the performance of every race and rally driver across the world's leading international and national championships and major races.

  • How are the AUTOSPORT World Driver Rankings calculated?

    a) RESULTS

    AUTOSPORT World Driver Rankings Index Score: Each driver is given a score depending on his qualifying position and his race result from each event that counts towards the AUTOSPORT World Driver Rankings. Additional points are given for fastest lap in the race, leading the race or rally, leading the most laps, finishing on the lead lap, most positions gained, and starting the event.

    b) WEIGHT THE PERFORMANCE

    AUTOSPORT World Driver Rankings Index Score x weighting x race adjustment = AUTOSPORT World Driver Rankings points: The driver's AUTOSPORT World Driver Rankings Index Score is multiplied by a pre-determined weighting. The weighting is based on the type of race or rally contested so the more important the race or rally, the higher the weighting. For example, a Formula 1 World Championship race will be weighted higher than a round of the British Touring Car Championship. Points are then adjusted depending on the number of rounds in the championship to equalise each series to a theoretical 20 rounds. Therefore, a race win in the 36-round NASCAR Sprint Cup would carry exactly half the value of a race win in F1 if there were 18 grands prix in the season. The result is a AUTOSPORT World Driver Rankings points total awarded for every driver in the race.

    c) CREATE THE RANKINGS SCORE

    The points total is then added to all previous points to provide a cumulative AUTOSPORT World Driver Rankings points total for the past 12 months. Each week the driver with the highest points total over the last 12 months will lead the AUTOSPORT World Driver Rankings.

  • Which drivers, championships and events do the AUTOSPORT World Driver Rankings cover?

    The AUTOSPORT World Driver Rankings includes all drivers participating in: All Japan Formula Nippon Championship, American Le Mans Series, Auto GP World Series, Blancpain Endurance Series, British Formula 3, British GT Championship, British Touring Car Championship, Campeonato Argentino de Super TC 2000, Deutschen Tourenwagen Masters, Eurocup Megane Trophy, European Formula 3 Open, European Le Mans Series, FIA European Formula 3 Championship, FIA European Rally Championship, FIA Formula One World Championship, FIA GT Sprint Championship, FIA World Endurance Championship, FIA World Rally Championship, FIA World Touring Car Championship, Firestone Indy Lights, Formula 3 Germany, Formula 3 Japan, Formula 3 Masters, Formula Renault 3.5, French GT Tour, GP2 Series, GP3 Series, Grand American Rolex Sports Car, IndyCar Series, International GT Open, Italian GT Championship, Le Mans 24 Hours, Macau Grand Prix, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nurburgring 24 Hours, Porsche Michelin Supercup, Scandinavian Touring Car Championship, Spa 24 Hours, Stock Car V8 Brasil, Super GT, Superstars International Series, V8 Supercars Australia, V8 SuperTourers New Zealand

  • How are the championship weightings calculated? What are the current weightings?

    Our analysts use their knowledge of the drivers and teams in each championship, plus the relative strength in depth of competition, to generate a strength rating for each series.

  • Who decides the weightings of points for each championship and race?

    The AUTOSPORT World Driver Rankings committee, comprising experts with knowledge across the spectrum of motorsport, monitors each of the championships and races to assess their value.

  • How often will the AUTOSPORT World Driver Rankings be updated?

    The AUTOSPORT World Driver Rankings is a rolling system that looks at the past 12 months (eg. October 2, 2012 - October 1, 2013). The updated AUTOSPORT World Driver Rankings will be made available each Monday via rankings.autosport.com

  • Is there a minimum number of events a driver has to compete in to be ranked?

    All drivers are ranked irrespective of how many events they have competed in. However, a driver's points total for each event will still be adjusted corresponding to the total number of rounds of the championship. In a 20-round Formula 1 season, if a driver contests just two races his/her points will be adjusted to the same formula as a driver who contests all 20.

  • What if a driver competes in more than one championship?

    If a driver competes in more than one series he or she will count all scores from their 'primary' series, plus up to two bonus scores from others.

  • Surely the driver who wins the F1 World Championship will top the AUTOSPORT World Driver Rankings?

    No. While this is likely if a driver dominates for a long period, an F1 season in which the top drivers are closely matched could always open up the possibility of a driver from World Rally Championship, NASCAR Sprint Cup or the IndyCar Series topping the rankings.

  • Are championship-deciding races or rallies worth more than other races or rallies?

    No, in general all rounds of a championship are of equal value. There are sometimes exceptions though. In the case of a race that counts for more than one championship, the higher-weighted of the two championships will apply. Also in the case of stand-out events, such as Le Mans, are weighted higher than other rounds of the championship to accurately measure their significance.

  • Is car performance taken into account?

    No, it is impossible to objectively calculate the exact performance of each car relative to the opposition.

  • What happens if a driver is subsequently penalised or excluded from a race or rally?

    The points are adjusted immediately for each driver whose position is affected by a penalty or exclusion, or the overturning of one.

  • Why does the AUTOSPORT World Driver Rankings not include series such as Formula Renault or Ginettas?

    Simple. The majority of the drivers in the categories covered by the rankings have already made some headway up the motorsport ladder. Championships within and outside of the rankings will always continue to be monitored as to whether they should be included at a future date.

  • How do I search for a specific driver?

    Click on the 'RANKINGS' tab, immediately on the left near the top of the page. Then, to the right, you will see the 'DRIVER SEARCH' function. Enter the name of the driver you wish to search for.

  • How do I find who has scored most Rankings points from a particular championship?

    Click on the 'RANKINGS' tab, the third option down on the list is the  'SERIES LEADERS' function. Click on the 'SERIES LEADERS' tab. Then just click on whichever series you are searching. This will only give you a driver's score in this particular series, although he or she may have competed in other series and therefore have a different overall Rankings score.

  • How do I find out the best performing nation?

    Click on the 'RANKINGS' tab, which doubles as the homepage for the Rankings section of rankings.autosport.com. On the second Tab down of the Rankings menu, you will see the 'NATIONS' function. Click on the tab to discover which country's drivers have scored the most Rankings points. Click on the country of your choice to discover who are the best-performing drivers from each nation.