As 2024 winds down, Supercars.com is ranking the top 10 drivers of the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship, continuing with Will Brown, who comes in as our #1.
Unsurprisingly, we've named Will Brown as the best driver in 2024.
In a supreme display of consistency, Brown claimed 19 podiums in 24 starts, and duly sealed the crown with a stunning charge from down the order to win in Adelaide.
Many doubted, including Brown himself, whether he was worthy of a drive at Triple Eight Race Engineering, and if he could follow the footsteps of Shane van Gisbergen.
In an emphatic response to the detractors, Brown was simply brilliant, and was a deserving champion.
Will Brown's season stats
Championship position: 1st
Best finish: 1st (Bathurst 500, Melbourne, Taupō, Sandown, Adelaide)
Average finish: 3.79
Race head-to-head with teammate: 14-10
Podiums: 19
Best start: 1st (Bathurst 500, Sandown)
Average start: 5.79
Qualifying head-to-head with teammate: 9-15
Why we picked him
Five wins. The most podiums. The best average finish. The third most average points per round since 2008. The first driver in 40 years to claim a podium at every round. Championship leader for 22 of 24 races. He spent 54% of the season's 1494 race laps in the top three, and scored 83.8% of all points on offer. We could go on, but the clearest indication of Brown's performance were images of the Queenslander holding the championship trophy. While many championships are won courtesy of big seasons of race wins, Brown had to get the best out of the races he didn't have the fastest car. Five wins is nothing to scoff at, but it was the lowest race wins return of a champion since Jamie Whincup in 2017. Like Whincup, who is regarded as the best to do it, Brown reeled off podium after podium to keep the points ticking over. Whenever his rivals stumbled, Brown had an answer, and was never truly troubled after taking the lead in March. Save for a clash in Townsville, Brown was outstanding in race trim.
What we expect next season
When Brown rolls out in Sydney in February, he will have the biggest target of all on his back. Only nine drivers in the 56-year history of multi-round championships have gone back-to-back, but what Brown achieved in 2024 should keep his rivals on their toes all season. Given Brown's high level of performance, the only thing that could stop him is if Triple Eight isn't on the pace. Brown was a more polished product than Broc Feeney in 2024, and while the latter will be determined in '25, don't expect Brown to take a backwards step.