It takes a certain type of individual to really stand out and make a difference to the lives of others. The automotive world is no different. So this year, we dug deep and picked out a handful of individuals that stood out and made a difference in the car world. At the end of the day, an automobile is just a cold hunk of metal. It takes the beating heart of a driven and passionate personality to turn it nto something with a soul.
Here are our nominees for the 2011 Personality of the Year and remember, vote for your pick!
(Above) Frederic Aasbo
James Allen
Fernando Alonso
Mark Arcenal
Trevor Bayne
David Brabham
Stephen Brooks
Martin Brundle
Mike Burroughs
Jenson Button
Tanner Foust
Shane Van Gisbergen
Lewis Hamilton
Ove Harlem
Christian Horner
Eddie Jordan
Tyler McQuarrie
Tommy Milner
Phil Morrison
Nakai-san
Naoki Nakamura
Justin Pawlak
Matt Powers
Chris Rado
Stephane Ratel
The late Jason Richards
Daigo Saito
Edward Sandstrom
Julian Smith
Petter Solberg
Tetsuya Tada
Dan Wheldon
Walker Wilkerson
Have your say on this year's Personality of the Year by voting in the poll below. Votes cast in the Comments section will not be counted.
- Paddy McGrath and Linhbergh Nguyen
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
Mr. Hamilton for sure...certainly the most interesting person in the F1 paddock.
Nakamura, for still killing it even after his arrest.
Naoki Nakamura
So many great great names on there...
HAD to vote for Mr Brooks though, just because
Walker Wilkerson, because I made some silly comments on his car on facebook and he actually liked them. He seems pretty cool. Not to mention his car is really awesome.
Well deserved
Gun Guns go Burroughs.
Peter Solberg. Because I never seen another ex-world champion stand in middle of a fan crowd next to the road.
Ove Harlem is a person with goals, and always reach them.
good driver
JB.
Voted for Stephen Brooks because this year he brought us some amazing videos one better than the other and you could just how his skills evolved with every new video, absolutely amazing work, although all these people came through this year in some way to make them stand out.
nakai san... obviously
Ove harlem-Drift monkey!!!!!!
popularity contest on a car site? I would imagine many of these same names will be showing up every year...
You guys suck, because You have made it an impossible choise for such a great personalties :)))... i'll put down my personal favorite from my personal experinse.... but this is sooooooooo hard!
lewis is best !
Walker for sure! I love this guys driving its crazy to a whole different level!!!
Brabs... Wonderful man on and off the teck!
Its between saito powers an nakai-san
i have a heart
But i voted for DW
Walkers a boss!!!!
walker is I'll and reppin SEA. Go walker!!
Great Guy
Where are the speedhunters? They do all this work after all :p
Give it up for Jason Richards! Winning races while battling cancer.
He was a REAL driver too. ACTUAL races - not this ice-skating-with-cars drifting nonsense.
Obviously it's Tanner since I wasn't nominated.
Dan Wheldon R.I.P.
this has to be nakai-san!
nkai-san for sure, great style
Not voting. Couldn't care less about this topic.
We've been fans of Tommy Milner since he raced for BMW. I'm sure he's raced for many others prior to BMW, but with Miller Motorsports Park being new to the Utah racing scene, we are a bit behind as far as following the American LeMans series goes.. He's a great racer at a young age and is super nice to his fans. Good luck!!!
Tanner Foust? Personality? Really? Thats like finding the most buoyant rock.
First thought was Nakai-san, but when i saw Naoki Nakamura im sure thats my favorite peronality.
Nakamura is my hero!
Got to love Stephen Brooks Videos!
Jason Richards. no matter the situation good or bad he always had a smile on his face. R.I.P
mb on f1.com or other f1 page I would vote for Hamilton or other famous pilot like him...
but on speedhunters - for Walker Wilkerson...like very much his style and actually his onevia...
Nakamura
M. Burroughs
Mike Burroughs for building awesome cars!
Mike Burroughs is the epitome of leadership, creativity and integrity.
Mike Burroughs
My vote is for Bill Caswell. And that is all...
Mr Mike Burroughs for sure.
Tanner Foust
None of the above: The late Marco Simoncelli...
Bunch of pooftas, only a few guys are cool.
I've met quite a few of the people on the list, and as cool as they all are, nobody quite matches the honest enthusiasm and attitude of Matt Powers. Everything he does has his name on it.
Mike Burroughs. Pure class. Pure stance.
Nakai-san.
the late Dan Wheldon* I whole heartedly believe that the enthusiasts drive this world, and so I voted for Mike Burroughs. He basically told everyone with one winter's worth of tinkering that they needed to step up their creativity levels.
The best driver
Nakai-san! RWB!!!
Vote for Aasbo!
Great guy, with his feet on the ground!
Naoki Nakamura FTW
That's a tough list. Lot of cool guys. Met Frederic Aasbo, and Matt Powers this year. Stand-up guys. Don't know why Lewis Hamilton is on the list though; he should be on the jackass of year list.
Go Ove!!
Nakai-san for RWB
Tada-san for the GT-86
Overall personality towards racing and racing fans in particular
Walker! A really good driver and great person!
Burroughs all the way with Rusty his 6 and the e36 with FMU's velocity stacks he can't be beat
Dan Wheldon for sure...
WW for sure the Kid ROCKS!!!!
tmac. nicest fd driver i've met.
Vote for Walker Wilkerson !!
Couldn't help but vote Naoki... dude is a wildman.
Matt Powers was definitely my second pick!
Best.
There are a lot of good hombres on this list, but I'm going to base my vote off of the pictures, because it's less biased. Nakai Sans picture exudes character, so he gets my vote.
powers!...look at that man! does anyone else wonder how much ass that dude gets?!... powers no doubt.
Nakamura. No question. Done. End. Finito.
RiP
you're the best bro!
M. Burroughs. Good man, great friend.
Still though, why the hell aren't Marco Simoncelli and Seb Vettel on the list?
walker keep killin it out there
tough call
No Jeremy Clarkson??????
Walker Wilkerson, the reason why i love his car, love his still... i took some pics at new jersey Formula drift and he like my pics over facebook and comment on one he realy seems a great guy
MARK IS A POONJAB
Du fikk mi stemme.
Walker is hands down it...who else would do a backward entry so smooth?
Regardless of what you like...how can you not vote for Mark Arcenal?! Hellaflush has become a household name and Fatlace/Illest have grown into very successful companies. Go Mark!
Vettel?
funny guy met him at irwindale formula drift!
Phil Morrison, Nakamura, Saito AND Julian Smith! Damn! Gotta be Phil though. Building some of the finest drift, track and street machines in the world while organising festivals and generally being a driving force behind UK tuning. And he's a brummy boy
Tyler McQuarrie
tiene una forma unica.
yes
Thats quite a list but for me it has to be Mike Burroughs as he has done lots for our scene with StanceWoks
Hard choice but I'll go with Nakai San
WALKA WALKA WALKA
nw represent!
WAKAAAAA
Walker did great this year and never let it get to his head. He's a great person and makes me proud to saw I'm from the pnw!
Nakai san
Voted for Phil from DW
Voted for Tommy. When i met him @ 24 hr Nurburgring. he was actually a really down to earth kinda guy, dispite the crazyness that was arround. i had a little talk with him about when he got into racing and what not. and he encouraged me to keep chasing that dream of mine. which meant alot
I was going to go with Tanner until i saw Dan Wheldon. RIP.
Justin Pawlak!
Mikey B Styles for sure! Super classy guy!
I'll call for Aasbo. Dude captivated me all year and had one hell of a ride.
And that smile never left his face the whole time!
Matt Powers, for being the coolest man on earth
haha mike burroughs, really?
Dan Wheldon !!
where is Daijiro Yoshihara ?!?!
Walker Wilkerson has been an inspiration for me this season. I have not only watched him execute some SICK maneuvering on track including entering backwards in Vegas, but have been wowed by his humble approach to the sport of drifting. I have spent a small bit of time with him off track and can say that he is a great ambassador for Formula D. It is because of Walker Wilkerson that I have decided to start my own racing effort in this next OMRRA moto season.
I'm voting for Walka Walka cause he's so dreamy (; You know you all wanna vote for him too --> Do it !!! <3
I'm voting for Walka Walka cause he's so dreamy (; You know you all wanna vote for him too --> Do it !!! <3
Loeb !!
Mark Arcenal
Creative director at Fatlace
Mike Burroughs of course
SOLBERG, he is running privately with loss in hope of sponsorship and to continue, and ofc another championship medal.
There is others, loeb is a hell of a driver, but he doesnt make much of himself, aasbø is always so posetive, always smilink.
Some of the japs here is hilarious.
Matty powers is always so humble, but I ended up with solberg for his determination, and his recklessness making rally still worth watching from time to time =)
Nakamura-san Is the best......He is a legend.
Naoki Nakamura
I voted for Tommy Milner, he is young, got talent, drives with his heart in it, and is polite to his fans!
Hands down aasbo. He is one of the most genuine and friendly guys period never mind the automotive world. He exudes a passion to grow the sport and he obviously wants to give back to the community and the scene. People who care so much about drifting is who we need to recognize for their devotion and positive attitude.
can someone please tell me what monkey drift clothing owner ove harlem is doing on this list????
can you really buy your way on to here?? the guy has done sweet FA!
phil Morison are you joking!! celebration of mediocrity at its best!!
Button for rising to the challenge of having Hamilton as number one team mate driving through the politics and corruption of f1 to finish ahead in the championship..
a shame marco simoncelli inst on the list, such a great personality
Voted for Tommy Milner. He'll always be a favorite.
Richards for sure
How can anybody vote for hamilton.. Just how.. how can be a personality of the year... The most annoing person of the year.. Person that mostly complain!!!
I vote for Brooksie.. for the awesome movies
While there are some pretty amazing race personalities on this list, I'd have to go with Tyler McQuarrie for his professionalism, attitude and performance under very challenging circumstances.....
Mike all the way
ofcourse Naoki, just great drifting style! And awesome car!
Martin Brundle!
stanceworks did it in 2011 for us!
Putting Ove Harlem on this list brings down the standard. He only thinks $$ and does not care about people at all. Fake person who dresses up as a 14yr old to feel younger.
WITH MANY DIFFERENT PLACES HE HAS TRAVELED AND BEING HUMBLE HAS MADE HIM SUCH A GREAT PERSON KEEP THE MOVEMENT ALIVE
IMO it's gotta be Solberg. The guys a skilled pilot in the hardest conditions on the world. Big admiration for they guy. RS
Double W all the way!! Keep it up kid!! We love you and your driving style!
Fredrik Aasbo
han er best
Stephen Brooks of course.
Started to watch Formula D events because of Aasbø. Now I can`t get enough and watch reruns all the time!
Started to watch Formula D because of Fredric Aasbø. Watching reruns all the time now!
Stephen Brooks should win this award!!!
As much as I like Tommy Milner, he is going to be around next year to vote for.
Dan Wheldon got my vote.
not sure any of these really count. not 1 of these set the motorsport world alight. i mean, whats James Allen doing in this list?
But i voted Dan Wheldon, it puts it all into perspective. He paid the maximum price, for our entertainment.
not sure why Mike is in here other than stanceworks
but he got that hometown vote son!
Petter Solberg !! he has done so mutch here in norway for the motorsport scene these last years, and at the same time beeing a faboulous driver
mike burroughs is a faggot with a following of jerk circle nerds
Frederic Aasbo for sure...
Mike Burroughs !
Guys, this Ove Harlem doesn't belong here at all. He's just a business man with a lot of money, the reason why people drive for his team (driftmonkey) is because he pays everything (tires, fuel etc.) Just an asshole with a lot of money, nothing to brag about! Go for Fredric Aasbo, he started with a cheap ass BMW and climbed up to the top where HE belongs to! Deserves to win, no matter what!
My vote has to go to Mr Phil Morrison, not only does he own and run one of the most successful drift company's on the net, The guy also happens to be one of the best Drifters in Europe. Nuff Said!!
how can you have Stephen Ratel and James Allen on the list ????
Had to vote for DAN WHELDON, can't believe he wasn't mentioned in Champion of the Year or Moment of the year.
Walker and car are great! Enjoy following.
Definitely voting Walker on this one. Not only is he a Formula Drift driver, but a friend as well. He's super appreciative, good to all his fans, and an awesome driver. Keep it up Walker!
No Ken Block or Vaughn Gittin, huh?
Gotta be Aasbø. With talent, style and grace he has my vote.
Nakai San... he took his brand 'world wide' and made such a HUUUGE impact.
on any other day i'd vote for matt powers, but i have to vote for dan wheldon here. RIP
WW for sure...good Ambaasador for Formulad
Walker...WW...favorite of the PNW & great ambassador for drifting go Walker!
Where is Sebastian Vettel???
Fredric Aasbø for sure! He is a great man!
One Person Mike Burroughs with his forum and his car i find him the best
Why is it all men?
Walker! WW Waka Waka...formulad personality plus!!!
Walker...formula drift rookie but upcoming pro & good rep fpr formulad
Walker....WW,,,,go to WalkerWilkerson.com and his blog report on Dominican Republic trip...example of his positive representative internationally for formulad.
Hellaflush/Arcenal bigger than the likes of Lewis Hamilton? Hellaflush is just a stain on the motorsports world.
Ove Harlem for being the most AWESOME guy on earth!
Goooo Monkey's!!!!!
Walker WW Wakaaa heart & personality for formulad!!!
Waka Wakaaa DoubleW...Go Walker!
Walker for sure
Walker W! Who else?
Walker WAKA WAKA....awesome...he gets my vote
Double W for sure! He visited us in Fukuoka, Japan last year after he spent time at Ebisu! He has a bright future!
Stephen Brooks, Phil morrison or Julian Smith FTW
Wakaaaaaa WW!!!!!!!