Prestigious book awards seeks entries

The 2025 edition of the Royal Automobile Club Motoring Book of the Year Awards is now seeking entries.

Guild members have regularly dominated the shortlists and winners of these prestigious awards, which are now in their 12th year – Phillip Porter, Doug Nye and John Mayhead were all successful at the 2024 event.

All motoring and motor racing books published between 1st July 2024 and 30th June 2025 are eligible for the 2025 awards. There are four main categories divided by price;

Motor cars and motoring – titles priced below £50 and above £50, and Motorsport – titles priced below £50 and above £50. As well as category prizes, one of the shortlisted titles will take the coveted overall Royal Automobile Club Book of the Year Award.

There are also two further awards – The Graham Robson Trophy for Best Debut Author, recognising an outstanding book by a previously unpublished author, and The Lifetime Achievement Award, honouring an individual (or business) who has made a significant contribution to automotive publishing.

Launching the awards, Jeremy Vaughan, Head of Motoring at the Royal Automobile Club, said that they have a simple yet important goal: “to champion the very best in automotive literature – honouring outstanding books, authors and publishers.

“Whether it’s marque histories, biographies, general motoring, motorsport or vehicle design, we aim to celebrate the exceptional quality and diversity within automotive publishing,” Jeremy added.

An entry form can be downloaded here and the closing date for entries is 31st July. The shortlist will be announced in September and the awards presented during a reception at the clubhouse (also the Guild’s registered office) in Pall Mall, London on 29th October.