9) Matthieu Vaxiviere
Matthieu Vaxiviere missed two race weekends during 2014 due to a back injury suffered in a crash at Monaco, but came back at the Nurburgring fighting fit and better than ever.
Towards the end of the season, the Frenchman was one of the drivers to watch, with seven consecutive points finishing taking him ahead of Lotus team-mate Marlon Stockinger in the points standings despite racing in four fewer races.
A podium in race two at the Nurburgring was an excellent way to return from his injury, and he took another podium in race one at Paul Ricard, ultimately finishing eighth in the championship, just six points adrift of double-race winner Norman Nato.
Vaxiviere combined his Formula Renault 3.5 Series campaign by racing in the World Endurance Championship, but his form from the end of 2014 could sway his future plans in favour of single-seaters. He tested in the post-season Formula Renault 3.5 Series tests with Lotus, and should he return should be a serious threat for race wins.
