May 05, 2025

 

The GPVWC Driver Rankings are more than just a leaderboard, they're a living reflection of skill, consistency, and competitive history across the league's many racing disciplines.
Powered by an Elo-based system, the rankings evolve after every race, rewarding performances against the calibre of opposition. This dynamic approach offers a clearer picture of a driver's relative strength over time, rather than relying purely on raw results.

To understand the present rankings, it's worth first understanding the platform behind them.

Founded in 2000, GPVWC has evolved from a text-based Grand Prix management simulation, into the premier rFactor 2 single-seater league. There are multiple leagues, ranging from the Academy series all the way to Superleague, and there is a rich history to look through as a consequence.

Legends of GPVWC
The names sitting atop the Elo leaderboard have, through championship glory, race wins, or sustained excellence across seasons, proven themselves to be the cream of the crop in GPVWC.

Steve Elencevski is the only 3-time winner of Superleague, and his performances from his 4 year career of 2004-2007 were exceptional. However, the relative strengths of the field overall have improved since his heyday. He's still ranked 21st overall in the list!

Philipp Puschke's standout record includes 571 points, 10 wins, and a Superleague title to his name, cementing his place as one of the most formidable drivers of the last decade.

Then there's Jannick Bock, another Superleague champion, with 1074 points and 15 victories. Although not the most prolific in terms of numbers, he was driving against a very strong post-Covid series, which saw simracing in general experience a huge boom. He won two titles, and there's a lot to be said about the standard of the competition in this era.

The same applies to Jake Denehan, an outstanding driver whose results include 6 wins and 13 podiums show just how good he is. His performance across both Superleague and Sprint categories, especially his 2023 Superleague title, elevated him into the upper ranks. He is sorely missed from the 2025 grid.

We also have drivers like David Fidock - a two-time champion from a decade ago who still races to this day, in SL2 for Lunarc.

Newcomers on the Rise
Looking down the rankings, there are several names likely to challenge the established order by season's end.

Mateusz Majka is perhaps the most notable. After dominating Formula Sprint 2 in 2024, he's taken the step up to FS1 in 2025 and immediately become the title favourite. With multiple wins already this season, very strong pace in all the qualifying sessions, and the ability to move up from FS2 to FS1 with ease, Majka's Elo is climbing fast and could soon get himself in amongst the very best of the Superleague regulars. he's already ranked 20th as of this article.

The same can be said for Frank Hamming, whose consistent points-scoring drives and recent victories in FS1 mark him as another driver whose rating may surge if form continues. His performances show a maturity that's rare in the mid-tiers, and he's been around in GPVWC a while now.

Lucas Thylin, another driver who has moved up through the series and finds himself now in FS1, has delivered significant improvements in 2025, climbing through the order in reverse-grid races and securing podium finishes from challenging positions. His trajectory suggests a strong finish to the year, and a rating that will climb accordingly.

Further down, drivers such as Kristers Svilo and recently, Christian Glamseter have impressed in Formula Sprint 2, regularly battling near the front and showing the potential to follow Majka's upward trend.

What the Rankings Don't Show
While the Elo system rewards consistency and beating higher-rated opponents, it doesn't always reflect mechanical misfortunes or context-specific brilliance. Drivers like Omari Watson or Michael Falkenhain, known for speed but often struck by poor luck so far in 2025, sometimes appear lower than their talent suggests.

It's also important to recognise that drivers from GPVWC Academy often take longer to register on the Elo radar, as this series isn't counted toward the rankings, but a strong run in any senior division can fast-track their status.

Our current Number 1
Tom Stevens currently tops the GPVWC Elo rankings thanks to his exceptional consistency and performances at the highest level, including winning FS1 in 2022 and a sustained run of wins, podiums and points finishes in Superleague, which has continually boosted his rating across multiple seasons. Tom has proven to be competitive in GPVWC wherever he races, but has yet to prove he's a Superleague champion outright. He did, however, help THR to winning the constructors' championship in 2023 and 2024.

A Moving Target
The beauty of the Elo system is that nothing is fixed. While Elencevski and Jannick Bock have earned their place at the top through years of racing, and winning, they're never safe. FS1 produces future champions and Superleague remains fiercely competitive (some would argue, the most competitive season ever), and as such, the rankings will continue to evolve.

As the 2025 season progresses, keep an eye on the battles not just on track, but in the subtle shifts of the Elo table. They might just be a glimpse into GPVWC's next generation of greats.

Check out the rankings page here:

https://gpvwc.com/services/rankings/

Elo rankings explained:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elo_rating_system

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