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Who is the greatest of all time?

As part of Autosport's 70th anniversary celebrations in 2020, we attempted to answer the age-old pub question in our commemorative bookazine. Who is the greatest racing driver of all time? Here's our take on the classic debate

Kevin Turner Feb 22, 2021, 10:50 AM

Who is the greatest? That's a question asked by fans across all sorts of sports and pursuits. Some say it's impossible to answer, but that rather misses the point. Engaged enthusiasts will always want to have the debate. Even if you take the view that no objective result is possible, it's an excuse to revisit the top names in a given field, revel in the finest of their performances, and sometimes it can throw up interesting observations or discoveries.

So what do we mean by 'the greatest'. It certainly is not as straightforward as 'the best'. Due to human progress and technological advancements, the best racing car and driver will be around now. Each generation builds on the knowledge and experiences of the past, so it would be concerning if there wasn't improvement.

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Author Kevin Turner

Kevin Turner is Autosport’s Chief Editor. While studying History at the University of York, Kevin began covering UK club events as a freelance reporter for Autosport and Motorsport News. He joined the Autosport staff as Editorial Assistant on the magazine in 2006, winning what is now known as the Motorsport UK Young Journalist of the Year Award. He became National Editor in 2008 and over the next few seasons covered a range of international events, including the Le Mans 24 Hours, as well as the British Touring Car Championship and British GT. Kevin became Features Editor before switching to edit Motorsport News in 2014.

He returned to Autosport in 2016 to become editor of the magazine, a dream job that is still part of his role.

He became Chief Editor in 2020, helping to plan content for autosport.com and Autosport’s podcast as well as seeing the magazine through the coronavirus pandemic. Kevin also led work on the special publication celebrating 70 years of Autosport and has been a judge on the Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award, formerly known as the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, since 2008. He lives in Warboys with his wife and two children.