Jim Richards Award: The best performances of 2024
The inaugural Jim Richards Award was won by Chaz Mostert at the 2024 Supercars Gala Awards, but there were several drivers recognised in Supercars' newest honour.
Mostert topped the voting after all 24 races in 2024 following a thrilling count, with the Walkinshaw Andretti United driver beating champion Will Brown and his Triple Eight teammate Broc Feeney.
Cam Waters, Matt Payne, Nick Percat and Brodie Kostecki filled positions four through seven, while the likes of Mark Winterbottom and Andre Heimgartner also topped the votes for individual races.
A total of 24 votes were available per race, and in the 24 races, there were nine instances of a driver polling the maximum 12 votes. So, who were they, and why?
Nick Percat, Race 6
The Matt Stone Racing driver's stunning win at the Grand Prix, with Percat beating Brown and Feeney in a thrilling sprint, was the first performance to be awarded the maximum. Percat, in just his sixth race with MSR, outlasted Brown and Feeney to snap Triple Eight's undefeated run in 2024.
Will Brown, Race 8
Brown was a star in the New Zealand finale, overhauling Feeney in the closing laps after a thrilling battle. Brown started fifth, but worked his way into the podium positions and hunted down Feeney. With a handful of laps remaining, Brown made his move, and made it stick.
Cam Waters, Race 10
Waters had to wait until Perth to claim his first win of the season, but he was superb, pushing Mostert all the way. The Tickford Racing driver benefited from a penalty for Mostert, but still had to keep pace with his Ford rival, not giving Mostert an inch.
Cam Waters, Race 13
In arguably the best battle of the season, Waters defeated Mostert in an epic Townsville fight to win Race 13. Waters and Mostert traded places through sunshine and late-race rain, with the Monster Ford getting by into Turn 2 in the closing laps.
Nick Percat, Race 17
Percat and MSR hit the jackpot in the Tasmania opener on a day it looked like Feeney or Mostert would strike back in the championship. MSR delivered a brilliant stop to get Percat out in front, with the veteran hanging on in a thrilling run home to take his second win of the season.
Broc Feeney, Race 20
While Kostecki dominated the Great Race, Feeney was a revelation on the day he didn't have the fastest car. Feeney stayed with Kostecki all day, leading to a blockbuster final 30 laps where the duo pushed to the limit, with margin not straying from a second.
Cam Waters, Race 21
Waters crushed the field in the Gold Coast opener, the Tickford Racing driver backing up his 2023 win with a dominant run in the Saturday race. Waters didn't put a foot wrong and was a comfortable winner, proving he is one of the true stars of Supercars.
Brodie Kostecki, Race 22
A day later, reigning champion Kostecki emulated Waters with a brilliant charge to victory in the Surfers finale. The Erebus Motorsport driver was peerless, controlling the gaps and putting his rivals firmly in his rear view mirror to back up his Bathurst victory.
Chaz Mostert, Race 24
One of two top-scoring performances not to claim the race win, along with Feeney in Bathurst, Mostert was supreme in the Adelaide finale. Smarting after being knocked out of title contention, Mostert rounded Feeney up at the Senna Chicane and led all the way, making all the right moves and forcing Feeney into an unsafe release penalty. Feeney had the faster car, but Mostert hung on, only to be taken out within sight of the finish. With a bent car, Mostert somehow held off a charging pack to finish on the podium.
