The Royal Automobile Club has crowned 91-year-old renowned historian Karl Ludvigsen’s life work as its 2025 Motoring Book of the Year.
Power Unleashed: Trailblazers who Energised Engines with Supercharging and Turbocharging, published by Evro Publishing, is a three-volume, 665,000 word work charting the evolution of forced induction in aircraft and automobiles. It’s the culmination of studies made my Ludvigsen over the last six decades, explaining how these power-boosting technologies transformed Grand Prix racing, Le Mans, and everyday motoring.
Upon accepting the award, Karl Ludvigsen said, “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.”
Our own Meyers Manx 1964-2024, produced by the Magneto magazine team here at Hothouse Media, and written by LA-based Magneto contributor Basem Wasef, won the ‘Books about motor cars and motoring, costing no more than £50’ category. With Basem unable to attend, editorial director David Lillywhite accepted the award on the night from the Club’s Head of Motoring Jeremy Vaughan, at the Royal Automobile Club‘s London headquarters.
The other winner books were Joseph Figoni: Le Grand Couturier de la Carrosserie Automobile Vol. II–IV: Bugatti by Peter M. Larsen & Ben Erickson; A.J. Foyt – Vol. 1: Survivor, Champion, Legend by Art Garner and My Travels On Racer Road: Can-Am and Formula 1 in their Golden Age by Pete Lyons. The Graham Robson Award for Best Debut Author was presented to Alejo Pérez Monsalvo for De Tomaso:
Racing Blue Blood.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was posthumously awarded to Gordon Cruickshank, long-time editor of Motor Sport magazine, celebrating his exceptional influence and enduring contribution to the UK’s motoring and motor sport literary scene. His contributions helped shape the very voice of British motor sport writing, and his deep historical knowledge, sharp editorial eye, and unwavering commitment to
accuracy earned him immense respect among peers and enthusiasts.
The Awards were judged by six experts who are independent of the Royal Automobile Club: Mick Walsh (Classic & Sports Car); Damien Smith (Motor Sport); Mark Dixon (Octane); Ian Titchmarsh (British Racing Drivers’ Club); Ben Horton (Hortons Books); and Christian Whitehead (Blackwell’s). The judging panel is chaired by respected motor sport writer, commentator and historian Simon Taylor.
Highlights of the evening can be seen on this YouTube video.
