THE NOMINEES

1 Tommy Byrne

Year: 1981 Car:

Van Diemen RF81

While Tommy Byrne was already in slick-and-wings at the time, Van Diemen boss Ralph Firman had been let down by lead driver Ayrton Senna, who had ‘retired’ back to Brazil. Ralph phoned his former works driver Byrne and invited him back into the fold to go and win the Festival. The Irishman delivered and it was another staging post on his burgeoning career (at that point).