The 2021 Award Winners

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 The  Royal Automobile Club Lifetime Achievement Award recognises an  individual who has, in the opinion of the Club, made an outstanding  contribution to British motoring history and heritage, or to the British  historic motoring and motor racing movement, across many years. This is  the only category which could not be nominated and is the only category  recognising achievement beyond the previous twelve months. 

John Grant has been a lifelong enthusiast for all forms of four-wheeled sport, but he has spent most of his working life as a successful businessman, with directorships of Ford of Europe, the Ford Motor Company USAand Jaguar Cars, as well as the NationalGrid, Gas Turbine Efficiency Ltd and several other engineering, chemical and technology companies.

Then he turned his attention to the management of motorsport, becoming chairman of the Motor Sport Association, now Motorsport UK. During his three-year term he turned the MSA from just an administrative body to one with a broad-based strategy to develop and grow motorsport in the United Kingdom. John was

also very instrumental in winning back the UK’s seat on the FIA World Motorsport Sport Council which he sat on from 2003-2005.

For the past eight years John has been chairman of the British Racing Drivers’ Club, steering it through the most challenging period of its 93-year life. Not only has he overseen a dramatic recovery in the club’s finances; also, when it seemed that we might no longer have a British Grand Prix, after a long negotiation he successfully concluded a deal with Liberty Media which contracted the race to stay at Silverstone.

His understanding of the sport’s needs and opportunities has been nourished by his own time behind the wheel. Having competed as a youngster in rallying, sprints, hillclimbs and even sporting trials, he took up circuit racing at the age of 47. In historic racing he has campaigned Chevrons, mighty McLaren and Shadow CanAm cars and a Silk Cut Jaguar XJR9, and was Supersports Champion in 2002. He also won his class in the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

The Longstone Tyres Light Car Race was bonkers but brilliant. It caught the interest and imagination of Vintage Sports Car Club members of all ages who supported the idea with a full entry of 38 cars. And everyone had a smile on their face throughout.

Judges' Comment  

Speeds may have been low but the enjoyment factor among VSCC participants and spectators was sky high. This was a great idea, superbly executed. It was pure magic!

 Finalists in this category 

·  Historic Formula Ford 2000 Association

·  Per Ardua Ad Infinitum (HERO-ERA)

·  The Longstone Tyres Light Car Race (VSCC)

David Tremayne employed his own deep knowledge of record-breaking to bring new depth to a complex character, whose life was an amalgam of triumph and tragedy, and is especially illuminating on the impact on Donald of the achievements and behaviour of his father, Sir Malcolm Campbell.

Judges' Comment

Our three-member panel was unanimous in its decision that David Tremayne’s incisive profile of land and water speed record-holder Donald Campbell, written to coincide with what would have been his 100th birthday, deserves this year’s top accolade.

 Finalists in this category 

·  Giles Chapman - Vintage milk floats have gotta lotta bottle (Hagerty.co.uk)

·  Martin Port – Land Rover No. 1 (Magneto)

·  David Tremayne – Donald Campbell, the man in the shadows (Magneto)

Bulldog began life as an ambitious project from cash-strapped Aston Martin to build the world's fastest supercar, with eye-popping styling by William Towns. Now it's been painstakingly restored and prepared for another attempt at 200mph – overseen by Victor Gauntlett's son Richard. Judging it on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales was an unusual experience, to say the least!

Judges' Comment

Once again, the contenders were so good but the Aston Martin Bulldog just pipped them with its remarkable story: 

• The madness of a near-broke company deciding to develop the world's first 200mph production car;
• The against-the-odds development by a small team of engineers in the corner of the factory; 
• The bravery of testing it at up to 192mph;
• The sadness of the project being stopped by new chairman Victor Gauntlett;
• The lost years of the car's mistreatment and disappearance in the Middle East;
• Its rescue by collector Phillip Sarofim working with Richard Gauntlett, son of Victor;
• The work by CMC to not just restore it but to finish the development and to prepare it for planned 200mph runs in the hands of Darren Turner in the next few months.

Just brilliant!

Finalists in this category  

·  1955 HWM Jaguar (Brazell Engineering/Gregor Fisken)

·  1961 'Veedol’ Lotus (RM Wilson Engineering/Simon Diffey)

·  1979 Aston Martin Bulldog (Classic Motor Cars/Phillip Sarofim)