POWER RANKINGS RANKED: Top 10 Hots of 2021
The Power Rankings powered by Doric absolutely delivered the goods this year, and largely, it was down to the awesome input from our readers. So thank you.
Consistently, the Power Rankings are our most popular feature on the site, with the mix of Hot, Not, What and Memes summarising all of the events throughout the season in our unique TRT style.
To put some Christmas wrapping on 2021, over three instalments we will be rounding up all of the best bits of the year, today starting with the Hots and Nots.
To arrive at the below rankings of the season’s Hots, we have used genuine science to score the 12 Power Rankings editions during the year, with points awarded on a 10 to 1 scale for each article.
All told, a total of 56 people, teams and topics featured from the various Hot Rankings throughout the season.
It’s encouraging that the final Power Rankings are in the ballpark of the real-life standings, with some curveballs thrown into the mix… so enjoy, and thank you once again for clicking in and also providing us with sooo much content to fill these pages with!
1. Shane Van Gisbergen
101 Power Rankings Points
Mirroring reality, SVG dominated the 2021 Power Rankings, all told, topping the charts in seven different editions, and scoring a Hot mention in all bar one event, the Bathurst 1000, where he was in the conversation for another win until a late tyre issue.
What a genuinely ridiculous year: across all categories, he competed in 36 races, won 19 times, scored 29 podiums, claimed nine pole positions and 11 fastest race laps. He completed every single of the 1,302 Supercars racing laps contested and led 392 of them.
Remember when he broke his collarbone and ribs, yet still won everything?
Constant beast mode, superhuman, in another league. Insert all of the superlatives right here.
2. Anton de Pasquale
59 Power Rankings Points
This year was the making of Anton de Pasquale.
Six race wins, 13 podiums and 11 pole positions, mostly with massive margins, once he truly came to grips with his Shell V-Power Racing Mustang after the mid-year break, he was for the most part in another league.
Earned a Hot mention eight times, and he topped the pops at the opening SMP event.
Finished sixth in the standings, and would have been much higher without five DNFs and one DSQ.
3. Jamie Whincup
51 Power Rankings Points
The GOAT bowed out from full-time competition with a season that at times was overshadowed by Shane Van Gisbergen, but he was constantly in the conversation at the front of the field, taking home trophies.
Wins at Symmons Plains and SMP2 showed that he still had what it takes, and his spirited battle with SVG in SMP’s race 28 proved that there was plenty of desire in the tank right to the end.
A total of fifteen podiums and three poles assisted in elevating old seven-time to second in the season standings, while seven Hot mentions saw him third on this list.
4. Races & Racing
47 Power Rankings Points
Despite the doom and gloom in the world, Supercars continued to turn on some excellent sport.
Seven times during 2021, individual races or various battles were classified Hot, and there were some certified corkers in the mix.
Point in case being Saturday at Sandown, when SVG put on a clinic from 17th on the grid, and this was from a package that we are constantly told that makes overtaking impossible.
Another highlight was Race 28 at SMP, which saw a breakthrough success for Will Brown, who resisted the charge from the Red Bull duo, and then there was SMP under lights in the wet.
The Bend and Townsville also garnered Hot mentions as well with some very spirited races.
5. Chaz Mostert
44 Power Rankings Points
Following Chaz Mostert’s opening knock with Walkinshaw Andretti United in 2020, which netted five podium finishes, his second innings resulted in three wins, nine podiums and two pole positions, all significant stats.
Also, he absolutely dominated the Bathurst 1000 race week, smoking the field from a record-setting pole position.
Appearing seven times as Hot, Mostert continues his rise back to the very top.
6. Will Brown
43 Power Rankings Points
Who saw Erebus Motorsport placing both of their rookie drivers at the top of the Hots, the points, the lot before the season starting Mount Panorama 500?
The squad came home with a wet sail, peaking at SMP3, where Will Brown earned his maiden win.
Another driver to appear as a Hot seven times throughout 2021, Brown is back to continuing the hot streak from his formative years in the sport.
7. Will Davison
37 Power Rankings Points
In his 18th season of elite Supercars competition, Will Davison continues to have the prowess to trade blows with the best in the business.
In his return season to the Dick Johnson named squad, Davison was an absolute picture of consistency, scoring ten podiums and claiming fourth in the final standings, and frankly unlucky not to break through with his 20th career win.
Five times a Hot rankings recipient in 2021.
8. Cameron Waters
28 Power Rankings Points
When Cameron Waters and Tickford Racing were Hot, they were red Hot.
A win at The Bend was later backed up by a pair of victories at Townsville 2, which saw him blast to the top of the Power Rankings for that event.
He placed second at Bathurst for the second straight year, too.
Nine podium finishes, four pole positions, fifth in the standings, and four Hot mentions to show for 2021.
9. TV
26 Power Rankings Points
Let’s face it, we are massive fans of the Supercars TV product, with this year seeing the various broadcasts mentioned eight times in the Rankings from 12 events.
The world-class words and vision wasn’t always easy to produce, with the pandemic border issues and lead-man Neil Crompton’s health issues throwing major spanners into the mix.
Continual improvements, innovations, passion and features make the uber-long race weekends worth the couch time.
10. Brodie Kostecki
25 Power Rankings Points
Like his teammate Will Brown, Brodie Kostecki absolutely punched above expectations throughout the season.
A breakthrough podium in the pouring rain at Sandown was proven to be no fluke with further trophies at SMP and from the big dance at Mount Panorama.
Ninth in the final point score, and four times a Power Rankings Hot recipient.
Honourable Mentions
Just missing out on the top ten were Tim Slade, the various National Anthems from around the circuit, as well the voice of Supercars, Neil Crompton.
The Nots
We also gave the Nots the Power Rankings pointscore treatment, and it became apparent quickly, that the final rankings didn’t reflect the ten biggest underachievers of the season, but more so the big players who missed opportunities on multiple occasions.
While Anton de Pasquale claimed second place in the Hots, he also topped the Nots, with his previously mentioned run of non-finishes, his personal fault or otherwise, costing him big time when he wasn’t out front and dominating.
To prove the point, four other top-ten Hot finalists also made the top-ten Nots, namely Will Davison, Cameron Waters, Shane Van Gisbergen and Will Brown.
The early season TV graphics woes were also a hard Not in the final run down, while Nick Percat, David Reynolds and Fabian Coulthard also strung together various misses and issues that saw them in the final 2021 Not list.
In the ultimate run down, 69 different topics earned a Not throughout the season.
Up Next
Stay tuned to these pages for…
Mark Walker (administrator)
A vastly experienced Motorsport Public Relations operator, journalist, commentator and photographer, Mark brings his unique angle to The Race Torque in both words and imagery. As well as serving as our key photographer on the ground at major events around Australia (and overseas), Walker will often chime in with his unique and pin-point sharp viewpoint of the racing world via the keyboard too.
