Van Gisbergen, Kostecki ranked on global motorsport list

Shane van Gisbergen and Brodie Kostecki have been recognised in Autosport’s Top 50 of 2023 list, which ranks the top 50 drivers in world motorsport.

Each year, Autosport magazine ranks its top 50 performers for the season, with Formula One world champion Max Verstappen topping the 2023 list.

NASCAR-bound van Gisbergen and Kostecki were ranked 20th and 28th respectively in this year’s list, with van Gisbergen recognised for a sixth time.

Kostecki and van Gisbergen fought for the 2023 Supercars title, with the former winning his first championship with six wins and 10 poles. Van Gisbergen finished second, winning a third Bathurst 1000 in the process.

Van Gisbergen’s 2023 was also headlined by a stunning first-up NASCAR Cup Series win on the Chicago streets, which paved the way to a move Stateside in 2024.

The Kiwi was ranked 10th in 2022, the year he won 21 races en route to a third Supercars championship. A year earlier on the 2021 list, the year of his second title, he was ranked 16th.

Van Gisbergen was previously ranked 47th in 2020, 39th in 2018 and 28th in 2016, the year he won his first championship.

New Supercars champion Kostecki, meanwhile, was recognised by Autosport for the first time.

The top 50 drivers are ranked by Autosport's experienced and respected array of journalists. Once again, the top 50 list was dominated by F1 drivers, with five drivers in the top 10.

Verstappen, who won 19 races en route to his third straight title, topped the list ahead of IndyCar champion Alex Palou, McLaren star Lando Norris, WRC champion Kalle Rovanpera and F1 veteran Fernando Alonso.

Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari World Endurance Championship star Antonio Fuoco, Formula E duo Nick Cassidy and Jake Dennis, and Wiliams F1 driver Alex Albon rounded out the top 10.

Van Gisbergen outranked the likes of Mercedes F1 driver George Russell (21st) and NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney.

Kostecki was just ahead of Kiwi rising star Liam Lawson, WRC legend Sebastien Ogier and Supercars champion turned IndyCar star Scott McLaughlin.

McLaughlin was ranked each time he won the Supercars title, being listed 38th in 2018, 14th in 2019 and 13th in 2020.

Kostecki’s title defence will commence at the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship opener, the Thrifty Bathurst 500, in February. Tickets are on sale on now.