The Royal Automobile Club Motoring Book of The Year awards are now open for entries.
Now in their eighth consecutive year, the Motoring Book of the Year Awards are considered the most prestigious recognition of excellence across the whole breadth of automotive book publishing.
The Club’s motoring literature trophies celebrate the greatest books, authors and publishers of automotive-focused titles, and their importance in exploring and documenting the many key events, vehicles and individuals who have helped shape the history of motoring and motorsport.
The six-strong independent judging panel will include experts from the specialist media – Mick Walsh of Classic & Sports Car, Gordon Cruickshank of Motor Sport and Mark Dixon of Octane – plus Ian Titchmarsh from the British Racing Drivers’ Club and, representing the retail sector, Ben Horton of specialist bookseller Horton’s Books and Christian Whitehead of famous London bookstore Foyles. The judging panel will be chaired by respected motor sport writer, commentator and historian, Simon Taylor.
The Awards have been greatly expanded for 2021, to reflect the growing number of important works being published in the field, with four categories instead of two. From these the judges will select an overall winner which will be The Royal Automobile Club Book of the Year. There will also be a further award for Best Debut Author, recognising an outstanding book by a previously unpublished author.
“The Royal Automobile Club Motoring Book of the Year Awards have become synonymous with celebrating the best automotive books, authors and publishers,” said Jeremy Vaughan, Head of Motoring. “Last year we had a terrific response with 32 entries representing 24 different publishing houses – from international and independents to self-published authors. We are once again encouraging as many authors and publishers as possible to submit their new titles for the awards. Whether it be marque histories, biographies, general motoring, motor sport or vehicle design, we want to champion the outstanding quality and diversity of automotive books”.
The list of past winners is a roll call of outstanding literary success – from John Surtees: My Incredible Life on Two and Four Wheels and Delage – Champion Du Monde, by Daniel Cabart and Christophe Pund, The Self-Preservation Society, 50 Years of the Italian Job by Matthew Field to Richie Ginther Motor Racing’s Free Thinker by Richard Jenkins.
Books to be considered for the awards must have been published between July 2020 and June 2021. Publications on all manner of car and motor sport subjects, historic or contemporary, will be considered.
The Club urges all automotive authors and publishers to make the judges aware of eligible titles. The closing date for submissions is Friday 22nd August 2021.
For further submission details please click here to download an entry form and accompanying guidelines.
The Royal Automobile Club Motoring Book of The Year will take place on Wednesday 27th October 2021 at the Pall Mall clubhouse in London.
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