COTY 2008 - Judge and jury

Ged Bulmer

You can take the boy out of FNQ, but you can't take the country out of Wheels' favourite editor.
A measured, methodical approach to driving and note-taking complements devastatingly effective administrative skills
Likes: decision-making
Dislikes: a chat

John Carey

Occam's razor seems blunt compared with JC's tendency to slash to the core of a car's ability.
His fierce, somewhat hirsute exterior hides a shining wit and sublime writing ability
Likes: tidy engineering
Dislikes: instant coffee

Jonathan Hawley

Able to combine Senna's driving talent with Edward de Bono levels of precision thinking and the writing ability of Shakespeare. Honest.
Otherwise a moderately talented hack for hire
Likes: writing biogs
Dislikes: fashion

Bruce Newton

Forsook a (potentially) glittering career in motorcycle racing to concentrate on journalism and never looked back.
Combines clinical car analysis and industry knowledge with legendary warmth and humour. Ahem
Likes: bikes with pedals
Dislikes: being idle

Sean Poppitt

Poppitt's debut on the COTY panel is backed by several years driving the Wheels engine room, road testing anything on offer. Boasts he has never left a car un-spanked
Lacks age, not wisdom
Likes: redlines
Dislikes: deadlines

Peter Robinson

Car companies quake when Robbo's opinions descend from the mountain, but for the COTY panel his decades of experience and unerring ability to recall people, events and cars are invaluable
Likes: honesty, efficiency and good cheese
Dislikes: loud music in restaurants

Michael Stahl

Unrecognisable in a helmet, Australian car journalism's former enfant terrible has barely mellowed with age, especially when tackling COTY's 80km/h lane change.
His rapid fire verbal humour is matched only by his clever prose
Likes: smartly dressed men
Dislikes: having no hair

Leanne Tander

Our judging panel's second newbie for 2008 is a genuine driving talent who almost took out the Oz F3 championship this year.
Also has experience in karting, Formula Ford, and V8 Supercars. Quietly opinionated, and genuinely nice
Likes: BMW steering
Dislikes: exploding engines