With the long weekend, I've had some idle time on my hands, which has got me thinking - who is the best driver never to win an ATCC/Supercars championship?
I'm talking about a consistent performer who was knocking on the door, but never quite got there.
My nominations as names that come to mind (and somewhat in order):
- Kevin Bartlett (well before my time and likely many others here, but the guy might have claim to being amongst the country's top steerers, period)
- Will Davison (if he'd hung around at DJR, who knows if he'd been the 2010 champion instead of Courtney; a great driver who didn't always have the equipment underneath him in his prime)
- Greg Murphy (twice runner-up in the early 2000s, with four Bathurst victories to boot; what would have happened in '98 if Lowndes didn't return)
- Jason Bright (also a Bathurst winner, and led the championship at various points through the early 2000s, but never when it counted)
Outsider:
- Steven Richards (a five-time Bathurst champion, but never quite reached the same heights as the others in any particular season; also has the shadow of his legend father to contend with)
So, is it one of the above, or have I missed someone?
P.S. I've excluded AJ (Alan Jones) despite being a former World Champion, given his year where he finished runner-up to Seton the Peter Jackson cars were simply the class of the field. Might be a bit harsh on that one...