Hot or not?

30 August 2010

Every Monday Hot or Not takes a look at some of the drivers playing their usual game of snakes and ladders on the Castrol Rankings.

Despite the return of Formula last weekend, the top 10 remained unchanged, despite the gaps closing up considerably.

With the return of Formula 1 still a week away, it was up to the stars of IndyCar and the World Rally Championship to upset the order in the top 20.

Michael Schumacher's charge through the field at Spa wasn't on a par with his 1995 victory, but it did make him one of the big movers of the week.

UP THIS WEEK

Michael Schumacher (64)

Played the strategy to perfection at Spa (above) and came from 21st on the grid to seventh in the race by virtue of a crafty one-stop strategy. Climbed 16 spots.

Robert Wickens (117)

Crashed when the rain came at Spa, but stayed on slicks behind the safety car and collected his second GP3 win of the year to climb 21 places in his Status Grand Prix car.

Tomas Enge (195)

Banished bad Silverstone memories and climbed 103 places by winning GT1 World Championship race at the Nurburgring in the Young Driver AMR Aston Martin he shared with Darren Turner.

Sean Edwards (705)

Made up 91 spots by winning Porsche Supercup race at Spa. British driver is now in the running for a top five spot in the championship.

Pietro Fantin (879)

Only had his first car race four weeks ago, but is already fifth in Sud-Am F3 after a third win in six races at Curitiba. Brazilian teenager made up 154 places.


DOWN THIS WEEK

Rubens Barrichello (19)

Made his F1 debut before Fantin was even born, and marked his 300th GP with an opening-lap retirement against Fernando Alonso's rear wheel at Spa. Dropped six places.

Heikki Kovalainen (62)

A move from McLaren to Lotus was always going to hurt his rankings position. Despite a best grid spot of the year, he finished 16th and lost 15 spots.

Jan Kopecky (94)

Was on course for a second straight Intercontinental Rally Challenge victory on home soil when he crashed out of Rally Zlin with two stages left. Fell 13 positions.

Dirk Muller (326)

Collided with a Doran-Ford as they battled for GT positions in the ALMS race at Mosport, and caused an early retirement. Threw away 24 places.

JR Hildebrand (589)

Lost his Dreyer & Reinbold IndyCar drive to Ana Beatriz at Chicagoland and fell 110 places as his Indy Lights score from 2009 was wiped out at the same time.

The Castrol EDGE Rankings are based on drivers' measurable performance over the last 12 months, including everything from their grid position to fastest laps. For further information on how the Castrol EDGE Rankings scores are calculated, click here.