ABDC 2017: A sideways glance

This ain’t my first rodeo, the saying goes, and over the 15-plus years I've been writing about cars I have been involved in all manner of huge group tests and car of the year events… But none measure up to Australia’s Best Driver’s Car (ABDC).

That's because the brutal restrictions of modern day publishing normally mean any large group test consists of two, maybe three days of car assessment. And that's just not enough time where it counts -- behind the wheel.

In reality, most of those few days are spent on photography, filming (and car cleaning).

ABDC is different. It's geared for the judges, to give them time, to really get under the skin of the metal present. Which was crucial this year as the conditions (weather and road) changed daily.

On reflection, however, we have a lot for which thank Tasmania's notorious micro climates. In fact, it was fascinating to feel how something as simple as a damp road levelled the playing field and helped less powerful cars like the Golf GTI 40 Years make an indelible mark in the judges' deliberations.

Watching a well-driven GTS-R W1 pedalled quickly in the wet, while I easily kept up in the small Volkswagen over challenging country roads, is an experience that will live with me.

And the roads... Put the scenery aside, it took barely five minutes before I realised why ABDC decamps to Tasmania every year.Indeed, forget being the best roads in Australia, the roads we drove on this year's ABDC were some of the best roads I've ever driven. Period… And with far less traffic..

It helps, like previous years, the ABDC crew was been joined by former Targa Tasmania winner and all-round legendary racer, Greg Crick. Cricky not only knows the island like the back of his hand, he's armed with a lifetime of knowledge of what cars work on its roads and how to set them up to make them win.

He's also a funny bugger and great to share a beer with.

At one point, I swear, if he had tools to hand he would have attacked the Giulia QV's suspension geometry, such was his desire to 'fix' the Italian super sedan to help it flow better over the Tassie black top.

Extracting hot laps out of all the finalists this year was motoring.com.au's regular professional racer and contributing journo, Luke Youlden. Frustratingly this guy is intelligent, eloquent, can both write and present and, of course, drive like hell. I hate him.

As for the rest of the team, it's a credit that the mix of senior road testers and contributing journalists wide breadth of experience and knowledge goes further than any car magazine or website to accurately distil what makes for a true driver's car.

The result is a winner that can be enjoyed to the full, whatever your skill set.

<a href="https://motoring.li.csnstatic.com/motoring/general/editorial/Nissan_GT-R_Day_2_22.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-csn-inline-image wp-image-214316" src="https://motoring.li.csnstatic.com/motoring/general/editorial/Nissan_GT-R_Day_2_22.jpg?height=427&width=640&aspect=fitWithin" alt="" width="640" height="427"></a>

ABDC 2017
>> 1st - HSV GTSR W1
>> 2nd - Porsche Cayman S
>> 3rd - Ford Focus RS
>> 4th - BMW M140i
>> 5th - BMW M3 Competition
>> 6th - Audi S5 Coupe
>> 7th - Mercedes-AMG C 43
>> Track test - The fastest ever
>> A sideways glance at ABDC>> 8th - Volkswagen Golf GTI 40 Year
>> Stats never lie – ABDC by the numbers
>> Not ranked - Alfa Romeo Guilia QV
>> All the ABDC FAQs
>> 10th - Abarth 124 Spider
>> Quarter-mile bragging rights
>> Meet the judges
>> 11th - Nissan GT-R

>> In search of Australia's Best Driver's Car 2017