25 best Supercars drivers since 2000: #8 Mark Winterbottom
As 2025 gets underway, Supercars.com is ranking the top 25 drivers of the last 25 years, continuing with Mark Winterbottom, who comes in as our #8.
A hero to legions of fans as the original Ford vs Holden era of the Supercars Championship came to an end in 2012, Mark Winterbottom has been well respected both on and off-track throughout his career.
Having burst onto the scene in 2003 with a dominant Super2 campaign for Stone Brothers Racing, and an impressive enduro cameo, Winterbottom earned his full-time debut with Larkham Motorsport in 2004.
Maturing under the tutelage of the team's namesake Mark Larkham, it was a move to Ford Performance Racing in 2006 that propelled his name into lights.
Winterbottom became one of the faces of the sport across his 13-year stint at Campbellfield, and could've easily had an even better career had he not had to face the might of Triple Eight and a peak Jamie Whincup.
Now out of a full-time drive, Winterbottom has his best chance in years of adding to his sole Bathurst win, as he returns home to Tickford to partner Cam Waters at the enduros this season.
Mark Winterbottom's key stats since 2000
Years active: 2003-present
Rounds: 287
Races: 645
Best championship position: 1st (2015)
Best finish: 1st (39 wins)
Top three finishes: 120
Best start: 1st (36 pole positions)
Best Bathurst result: 1st (2013)
The highlight
At the height of the Whincup rivalry, Winterbottom stood tall on the sport's biggest stage to claim the biggest win of a legendary career.
After co-driver and former full-time teammate Steven Richards overhauled Whincup's co-pilot Paul Dumbrell, the 2013 Bathurst 1000 boiled down to a straight duel between the two rivals.
For lap upon lap, Winterbottom resisted the immense pressure the reigning Bathurst and Supercars champion was placing on him, before making a small error at Hell Corner on the final lap.
Winterbottom had to cover the inside run at Griffin's Bend, whilst Whincup flew to the outside in an audacious and desperate attempt to snatch the lead.
On the inside line, Winterbottom was able to hang tough and force Whincup to all but hit the wall, whilst the FPR Falcon had a big wriggle at the exit of the corner.
Whilst the Triple Eight superstar arguably had Winterbottom's measure over the course of their rivalry, the Ford hero was able to stand up on the biggest stage and claim the biggest win of his career.
Why we picked him
Soon after joining Ford Performance Racing in 2006, the man affectionately known as 'Frosty' became the leading light for the Blue Oval as the factory team took over from Stone Brothers Racing as the lead Ford operation.
Winterbottom's rise through the ranks matched that of former Formula Ford rival Whincup, and it's been well documented that the pair could've been in each other's seats when Whincup joined Triple Eight for 2006.
Whilst history would prove that the Triple Eight seat was arguably the better place to be, Winterbottom still put up some mighty performances and beat Whincup on several occasions.
When the renamed-Prodrive Racing Australia wheeled out the FG X Falcon in 2015, Winterbottom capitalised, and claimed a popular championship win.
A move to Team 18 brought a new challenge to the veteran, who brought the operation their maiden successes, claiming a pole position in 2019 at Tasmania and a maiden win for the team in 2023 at Darwin.
The views in this article do not necessarily express the opinions of Supercars, teams or drivers.
