The Royal Automobile Club Motoring Book of the Year Awards are now open for entries. The Awards are open to all motoring and motor racing books published between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024.
Now in their eleventh consecutive year, the Motoring Book of the Year Awards are considered the most prestigious accolades in automotive book publishing.
“Our Awards have a simple aim: to champion the best automotive books, authors and publishers,” said Jeremy Vaughan, Royal Automobile Club Head of Motoring. “We are once again encouraging as many authors and publishers to submit their new titles for the awards. Whether it be marque histories, biographies, general motoring, motorsport or vehicle design, we want to celebrate the outstanding quality and diversity of automotive books”.
“The list of past winners is a roll call of outstanding literary success – from The Lamborghini Miura by Simon Kidston and Jon Pressnell, How to Build a Car by Adrian Newey, The Self-Preservation Society, 50 Years of the Italian Job by Matthew Field and Fit for a King: The Royal Garage of the Shahs of Iran by Borzou Sepasi to Driven To Crime by Crispian Besley.
“Our independent judges always have a tough time choosing from outstanding work to produce the shortlist that we publish in September. I’m sure that this year will be no exception.”
The four categories for which titles are eligible include two for books on cars and general motoring costing both below and above £50, and two for motor sport books below and above £50. One of them will also take the coveted overall Royal Automobile Club Book of the Year Award. In addition, the Graham Robson Trophy for Best Debut Author recognises an outstanding book by a previously unpublished author, and The Lifetime Achievement Award honours an individual or business who has made a major contribution to the automotive publishing industry.
The six-strong judging panel of independent experts includes Mick Walsh of Classic & Sports Car, Gordon Cruickshank of Motor Sport and Mark Dixon of Octane from specialist media, plus Ian Titchmarsh from the British Racing Drivers’ Club. Representing retailers will be Ben Horton of specialist bookseller Horton’s Books and Christian Whitehead of Oxford bookstore Blackwell’s. The judging panel is chaired by motor sport writer and commentator Simon Taylor, who will also host the Awards ceremony.
To ensure that their books can be given the fullest consideration in every detail, the Club urges all automotive authors and publishers to submit an eligible title as soon as it is published. The closing date for submissions is Wednesday 31 July 2024. For further submission details, please click here to download an entry form and accompanying guidelines.
The winners will be announced at the Club’s historic Pall Mall clubhouse on Wednesday, 30 October 2024, amongst guests from the worlds of publishing, motoring and motorsport.
Notes to Editors:
https://www.royalautomobileclub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MBOY-Entry-Form-2024.pdf