Last week The Royal Automobile Club hosted the annual Motoring Book of The Year Awards at their Pall Mall Clubhouse in Central London, where renowned automotive historian and author Karl Ludvigsen was presented with the club’s 12th annual Motoring Book of the Year award for his book Power Unleashed: Trailblazers who Energised Engines with Supercharging and Turbocharging, published by Evro Publishing, priced at £395.
The awards are attended by distinguished motoring and motor racing authors and publishers from around the world and judged by six experts who are independent of the Royal Automobile Club. They represent the UK’s most informed motoring literary critics, and this year included Mick Walsh from Classic & Sports Car, Damien Smith from Motor Sport, Mark Dixon from Octane and Ian Titchmarsh from the British Racing Drivers’ Club. Representing the retail sector were Ben Horton from Hortons Books and Christian Whitehead from Blackwell’s. As usual, the judging panel was chaired by respected motorsport writer, commentator and historian Simon Taylor who also hosted the evening’s awards.
Ludvigsen’s career has spanned more than six decades and received the Lifetime Achievement Award two years ago in 2023. Now 91, he has written landmark works on Porsche, Corvette and Mercedes-Benz. His deep technical knowledge combined with narrative flair has made his books essential reading for both enthusiasts and engineers.
Power Unleashed is the result of Ludvigsen’s lifetime research into the evolution of supercharging and turbocharging. This magnificent three-volume work looks at how engineers and visionaries revolutionised the performance of cars and aircraft through forced induction.
Each volume brings complex technologies to life, showing how these power-boosting technologies transformed Grand Prix racing and Le Mans as well as everyday motoring with Ludvigsen’s trademark clarity.
Karl Ludvigsen said on receiving the award:
“It’s deeply gratifying to see Power Unleashed recognised in this way. Forced induction has fascinated me since I was a student engineer in the 1950s, and this project represents a lifelong journey of discovery. I hope readers will share my admiration for the brilliant minds who turned air and pressure into power. I would like to extend my thanks to Evro Publishing for their belief in this project and their superb work in making it a reality.”
Jeremy Vaughan, Head of Motoring at the Royal Automobile Club, added:
“Power Unleashed is a towering achievement and a truly definitive work. It is beautifully produced, deeply researched and stands as a landmark publication that will serve as an important reference for engineers, historians, and enthusiasts alike.
“Here at the Club, we’re proud to recognise such excellence in motoring literature and we’re grateful to our expert panel of independent judges for their passion, knowledge and dedication. The Book Awards represents our part in encouraging the best new work.”
The Graham Robson Award for Best Debut Author went to Alejo Pérez Monsalvo and Marcel Schaub for De Tomaso: Racing Blue Blood, published by McKlein Media, priced at £295.
In addition to these two awards, The Royal Automobile Club also awarded Books about motor cars and motoring, costing no more than £50 to Basem Wasef for Meyers Manx 1964-2024, published by Hothouse Media, priced at £49.50.
The award for Books about motor cars and motoring, with no price limit went to Peter M. Larsen and Ben Erickson for Joseph Figoni: Le Grand Couturier de la Carrosserie Automobile Vol. II–IV: Bugatti, published by Moteurs!, priced at £650.
The award for Books on a motorsport subject, costing no more than £50 was awarded to Art Garner for A.J. Foyt – Vol. 1: Survivor, Champion, Legend, published by Octane Press, priced at £37.
For Books on a motorsport subject with no price limit, the award went to Pete Lyons for My Travels On Racer Road: Can-Am and Formula 1 in their Golden Age, published by Evro Publishing, priced at £70.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was posthumously awarded to Gordon Cruickshank to celebrate his exceptional influence and enduring contribution to the UK’s motoring and motorsport literary scene.
Cruickshank served as Deputy Editor of Motor Sport magazine for over 30 years, and his contribution helped shape the voice of British motorsport writing. His historical knowledge, sharp editorial eye and commitment to accuracy earned him great respect among both peers and enthusiasts. He was also a tireless advocate for motoring literature, ensuring that the great stories from the golden age of racing to the modern era were told with intelligence and authenticity, triumphing over enormous personal adversity to always remain positive and great company.
Author Bio:
Simon Burrell is a UK-based motoring and travel journalist and editor, a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers and former saloon car racing driver.
Photographs by Gary Harman
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