Smitty
11-02-2005, 03:49 PM
Brock Rated In The Top Touring Car Drivers of All Time
11th February, 2005.
EVEN in retirement Peter Brock continues to collect accolades and win admiration, the latest being named second among the top 20 touring car drivers of all-time in the February issue of UK magazine 'Motor Sport'.
The nine-time Bathurst 1000 winner, who will celebrate his 60th birthday on February 26, was pipped to the top spot by Brit Steve Soper and was one of three Australians included on the list. Frank Gardner and expat Brian Muir also made the expert panel's top 20.
Of Brock, panellist and 'Motor Sport' editor Paul Fearnley wrote, "before you dismiss him as a big fish in a small pond, remember that ranged against him were Jim Richards, Dick Johnson, Colin Bond, Allan Moffat, Larry Perkins and Mark Skaife - all of whom, it could be argued, deserved a place on the list.
"Yes, his European visits were rare, but the distances and logistics involved, and strength of his brand (and the scene) at home, made such campaigns unnecessary. Had he offered his services in Europe he would have been snapped up - and been successful. Of that there can be no question.
"In a country that measures itself in increments of sporting excellence, Brock is mentioned in the same breath as Bradman and Brabham. No other saloon car driver comes close in the household-name stakes."
Also included in the list was former Brock co-drivers Andy Rouse, Gerry Marshall and John Cleland. Rouse competed at Bathurst twice alongside Brock, while Marshall teamed up with the nine-time Bathurst winner to finish second outright and class winners in the 1977 Spa 24 Hour race.
Cleland, a two-time British Touring Car Champion, competed at Bathurst with Brock in a Commodore in 1993 and has been a regular at Mount Panorama ever since.
The Top 20 Touring Car Drivers of All-Time According to 'Motor Sport'
1. Steve Soper (UK)
2. Peter Brock (AUS)
3. Andy Rouse (UK)
4. Alain Menu (SWI)
5. Bernd Schneider (GER)
6. Frank Gardner (AUS)
7. Roberto Ravaglia (ITA)
8. Gerry Marshall (UK)
9. Jim Clark (UK)
10. John Cleland (UK)
11. Gabriele Tarquini (ITA)
12. Klaus Ludwig (GER)
13. Laurent Aiello (FRA)
14. Dieter Quester (GER)
15. Hans Stuck Jnr (GER)
16. Joachim Winkelhock (GER)
17. Jack Sears (UK)
18. Rickard Rydell (SWE)
19. Frank Biela (GER)
=20. Brian Muir (AUS) =20. Nicola Larini
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ain't this one gunna start the arguments..... :lol:
11th February, 2005.
EVEN in retirement Peter Brock continues to collect accolades and win admiration, the latest being named second among the top 20 touring car drivers of all-time in the February issue of UK magazine 'Motor Sport'.
The nine-time Bathurst 1000 winner, who will celebrate his 60th birthday on February 26, was pipped to the top spot by Brit Steve Soper and was one of three Australians included on the list. Frank Gardner and expat Brian Muir also made the expert panel's top 20.
Of Brock, panellist and 'Motor Sport' editor Paul Fearnley wrote, "before you dismiss him as a big fish in a small pond, remember that ranged against him were Jim Richards, Dick Johnson, Colin Bond, Allan Moffat, Larry Perkins and Mark Skaife - all of whom, it could be argued, deserved a place on the list.
"Yes, his European visits were rare, but the distances and logistics involved, and strength of his brand (and the scene) at home, made such campaigns unnecessary. Had he offered his services in Europe he would have been snapped up - and been successful. Of that there can be no question.
"In a country that measures itself in increments of sporting excellence, Brock is mentioned in the same breath as Bradman and Brabham. No other saloon car driver comes close in the household-name stakes."
Also included in the list was former Brock co-drivers Andy Rouse, Gerry Marshall and John Cleland. Rouse competed at Bathurst twice alongside Brock, while Marshall teamed up with the nine-time Bathurst winner to finish second outright and class winners in the 1977 Spa 24 Hour race.
Cleland, a two-time British Touring Car Champion, competed at Bathurst with Brock in a Commodore in 1993 and has been a regular at Mount Panorama ever since.
The Top 20 Touring Car Drivers of All-Time According to 'Motor Sport'
1. Steve Soper (UK)
2. Peter Brock (AUS)
3. Andy Rouse (UK)
4. Alain Menu (SWI)
5. Bernd Schneider (GER)
6. Frank Gardner (AUS)
7. Roberto Ravaglia (ITA)
8. Gerry Marshall (UK)
9. Jim Clark (UK)
10. John Cleland (UK)
11. Gabriele Tarquini (ITA)
12. Klaus Ludwig (GER)
13. Laurent Aiello (FRA)
14. Dieter Quester (GER)
15. Hans Stuck Jnr (GER)
16. Joachim Winkelhock (GER)
17. Jack Sears (UK)
18. Rickard Rydell (SWE)
19. Frank Biela (GER)
=20. Brian Muir (AUS) =20. Nicola Larini
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ain't this one gunna start the arguments..... :lol: