Sir William Lyons Award

Open to both Guild members and non-members

Originally presented by Sir William Lyons, founder and President of Jaguar Cars Ltd, and awarded to a person of British nationality resident in the United Kingdom, under the age of 23, with a keen interest in any aspect of the motor car, motoring or road transport.

The object of the award is to encourage young people in automotive journalism, including broadcasting, and to foster interest in motoring and the motor industry through these media.

Relaunched in 2025 in partnership with Autocar and Jaguar Land Rover, the award is now open to entrants between 17 and 21 years of age.

The submission will be in Autocar’s Why I Love feature format. Candidates are required to write 450 words on any automotive subject they are passionate about. But it’s important to use the column to celebrate joy for a particular topic, rather than use it as a back-handed way to criticise another.

The winner’s submission will be published in Autocar, and the winner will be offered a week’s work experience.

2019-2024 Not awarded

2018 Luke Chillingsworth

2017 Not awarded

2016 Hélena Hicks

2015 Not awarded

2014 Stephen Kilby

2013 Ciaran O’Donnell Anderson

2012 Andrew Brady

2011 Alex Michaelides

2010 Tim Swietochowski

2009 Rhian Angharad Jones

2008 Peter Adams

2007 George Barrow

2006 Dimitri Pesin

Submit an entry