World Champion Jenson Button has received an early season boost after topping the initial Castrol Rankings seeding system that rates the world's best drivers.
The Castrol Rankings were launched at the AUTOSPORT International Show on Thursday, where it was revealed that Button's form during his title-winning 2009 campaign helped him edge out title rival Sebastian Vettel and world rally champion Sebastien Loeb to become the first table-topper.
The Castrol Rankings system is the most in-depth global driver ranking system that has ever been produced, and it has been put together with the help of RACER's UK-based fellow Haymarket magazine, AUTOSPORT. The rankings analyze some 50 global motorsports series, including Formula 1, NASCAR, IndyCar and WRC, to create a continuous measurement of driver talent. The points will be updated weekly and, using a unique Castrol Index Score to weight different categories, provides the first live ranking system that rates drivers for their performances over the previous 12 months.
More than 2000 drivers are included in the rankings, which use expert analysis and highly advanced technology to ensure that every lap counts. Further details can be found here.