V8 Supercars Mid Season Report Card

As V8 Supercars re-emerges from its summer break, it's an appropriate time to rate the performances so far. I'll not cover every driver, but I'll cover key drivers and also some standouts and lowlights. Team performance will be incorporated as a factor, so Mark Winterbottom, say, may be better than the rating I give seeing Team18 haven't had a good year.

A:

Scott McLaughlin (1st)

McLaughlin has been incredible this season. There's not really much else you can say.

B:

Andre Heimgartner (13th)

While Heimgartner isn't the highest car in the championship, and he isn't even in the top half of cars, he has shown impressive pace from the rather poor Nissan this year, particularily considering he is destroying a legend of the sport in Rick Kelly, and a Formula E and Indycar level driver in Simona de Silvestro. Maybe someone a top team should watch for in 2021?

Jamie Whincup and Shane van Gisbergen (3rd and 5th)

I've covered these two in the same rating, considering their performances are similar. Neither has been a qualifying monster this year, but they have continually been a factor in the races.

David Reynolds (6th)

The best of the rest. David Reynolds has had a solid year. Although it hasn't been anything like last year, he is still the 3rd best Holden. Watch for him at Bathurst considering he has been renowned for his performances there recently.

Todd Hazlewood (18th)

There will always be a Todd in Supercars it seemed in 2018 when Hazlewood stepped up. And although he was consistently last, that was because MSR was pretty rubbish then. They have improved markedly this year, and Hazlewood has even made two Top 10 shootouts and could have had a very good race on Sunday in Townsville is the rain had stayed away.

Anton de Pasquale (11th)

WHile Anton has made some mistakes this year, he's proven he can mix it with the best with results such as a podium at Phillip Island are proof of his talent. He doesn't have any big titles to his name, but that's due to the fact that he only got half a season in competitive machinery in Super2.

Chaz Mostert (4th)

Chaz has made some mistakes like Anton (remember the race where he spun off three times?) but he has also been near race wins quite often. To become a force in the title, he just needs to convert more often.

Will Davison (8th)

Davison hasn't had a competitive package (Bathurst 2016 aside) for years, but has now got one and is enjoing his revitalisation. With his 200th round at the Bend, he has got a podium this year and has often challenged for them.

C:

Fabian Coulthard (2nd)

Fabian hasn't been as good as McLaughlin but that isn't the reason why he's a C- no-one has. It's because of rounds like Ipswich (10th and 18th) are why he's a C.

Cam Waters (7th)

Waters deserves a B. He does. But Melbourne.

Lee Holdsworth (10th)

Holdsworth has been unlucky with Team 18 for tfour years, and now the C isn't really a result of bad luck, but it's more due to the fact he has had to change his driving style. Expect him to improve in the end of season.

Fail:

WAU:

I don't want to fail either of their drivers because they have been good this year, but the team and the package is a step back from last year. And moving backwards with the same car as last year should probably be counted as something that isn't good. I guess it is why theya re rumoured to bring in one or two new drivers this year.

Thanks for reading my Mid Season Report Card! More exciting content is coming soon, including a F1 report card next week.