2025 INTERNATIONAL HISTORIC MOTORING AWARDS: FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
Words: Photography: Thomas Alexander
October 14, 2025
The International Historic Motoring Awards (IHMA), presented by Lockton, is pleased to announce this year’s contenders – celebrating the remarkable people, machines, clubs, museums, books and institutions driving excellence across the world of historic motoring.
Experts and enthusiasts from across the globe made a record number of nominations in 15 categories. This year’s contenders have been selected in categories recognising excellence in areas ranging from outstanding restorations and internationally acclaimed events to exceptional individual achievements.
Those who have made it onto the shortlists now advance to the final stage of judging, from which a distinguished panel of experts and prominent figures from the motoring world will determine the winners. The judges include Octane columnist Jay Leno, Pebble Beach’s Sandra Button and designer Peter Stevens.
The winners – together with the recipients of the publicly voted Car of the Year and the esteemed Lifetime Achievement Award – will be announced at a prestigious ceremony and gala dinner, to be held at the luxurious Peninsula London hotel on Grosvenor Place, Belgravia, on November 14. The evening will be hosted by renowned broadcaster and racing driver Amanda Stretton and promises to be a highlight of the historic motoring calendar.
Celebrating its 15th running in 2025, the International Historic Motoring Awards honours excellence across the classic and performance car world. This year’s event is proudly presented in conjunction with Lockton and supported by Castrol Classic Oils, Classic Car Register, Petersen Automotive Museum, Nyetimber, Revs Institute, and Octane and Magneto magazines.
Hothouse Media co-founder and managing director Geoff Love, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating the 15th year of the International Historic Motoring Awards. The response this year has been incredible, with an exceptional number of nominations from across the global classic and collector car community. The quality and enthusiasm reflected in the entries have been outstanding, and we’re very much looking forward to celebrating the winners at the Peninsula London in November.”
To book a table (please note that we sold out well ahead of the event last year), book via our website here.
CATEGORIES
CAR OF THE YEAR
Public voting is open at historicmotoringawards.co.uk until October 24, 2025.
RESTORATION OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Classic Car Register
- Jaguar C-type by Tony Purnell / Pendine / CKL Developments
- Aston Martin Two Litre Sports by RS Williams
- Hispano-Suiza H6C Type Sport Torpedo by RM Auto Restoration
- Ferrari 410 Superamerica by Paul Russell & Company
- Hispano-Suiza H6C ‘Boulogne’ by Jonathan Wood
- Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Alloy by Tom Hartley Jnr
- Siata 208 CS Balbo by RX Autoworks
BESPOKE CAR OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Octane
- R33 Stradale by Automotive Artisans
- Ford Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition by Boreham Motorworks
- Rolls-Royce Corniche ‘Henry II’ by Niels van Roij Design
- Wood & Pickett Mini by CALLUM
- Lightweight GTR by Eagle
- Veloce12 Barchetta by Touring Superleggera
- Battista Novantacinque by Pininfarina
- Batur Convertible ‘One-Plus-One’ by Bentley Mulliner
BOOK OF THE YEAR
- Spy Octane: The Vehicles of James Bond, by Matthew Field and Ajay Chowdhury (Porter Press International)
- Joseph Figoni: Le Grand Couturier de la Carrosserie Automobile Vol. II-IV: Bugatti, by Peter M Larsen and Ben Erickson (Moteurs!)
- Power Unleashed: Trailblazers who Energised Engines with Supercharging and Turbocharging, by Karl Ludvigsen (Evro)
- Twice Around the Clock – The Yanks at Le Mans Vol IV-V, by Tim Considine (David Bull)
- The Aston Martin ‘Project’ GT Racing Cars, by Stephen Archer and David Tremayne (Palawan Press)
BREAKTHROUGH EVENT OF THE YEAR
- The Royal Automobile Club Concours
- Concours of Slovakia
- Pearl of India Rally
- The Ayrburn Classic
- Icons Mallorca
CLUB OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Lockton
- Aston Martin Owners Club
- Vintage Sports-Car Club
- MG Car Club
- Porsche Club GB
INDUSTRY SUPPORTER OF THE YEAR
- BMW Group Classic
- Historic & Classic Vehicles Alliance
- Association of Heritage Engineers
- Motul
- Piston Foundation
- Mercedes-Benz Heritage
MOTORSPORT EVENT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Revs Institute
- Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
- Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix
- Le Mans Classic
- Silverstone Classic (including the World Champions Collection)
MOTORING EVENT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Nyetimber
- The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering
- The Amelia Concours
- The Bridge
- Salon Privé
- ModaMiami
- The Aurora
- Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week
- Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este
PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by the Petersen Automotive Museum
- Guy Moerenhout for establishing the SQUADRA Abarth & Rally Collection museum
- Luigi Orlandini for the success and expansion of Canossa Events
- Tomas de Vargas Machuca for driving the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge solo
- Fritz Burkhard for driving a Bugatti Atalante 4000 miles to display it at Pebble Beach
SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Castrol Classic Oils
- Tom Hartley Jnr
- HK-Engineering
- RM Sotheby’s
- Rally Preparation Services
- Aston Martin Works
- Lamborghini Polo Storico
RALLY OR TOUR OF THE YEAR
- Tour de Corse Historique (Modus Vivendi)
- Terre di Canossa Rally (Canossa Events)
- Flying Scotsman (HERO-ERA)
- Rallye des Princesses (Peter Auto)
- Oman Classics 2025 (HK-Engineering)
RISING STAR OF THE YEAR
- Ethan Blake-Jones (Paddock Speedshop)
- William Garrett (Hilton & Moss)
- Alex Hearnden (96 Engineering)
- Will Marsh (VSCC)
RACE SERIES OF THE YEAR
- Super Sprint (Equipe Classic Racing)
- Alfa Revival Cup (Canossa Events)
- Endurance Racing Legends (Peter Auto)
- GT & Sports Car Cup (Automobiles Historique)
- IROC (IROC Holdings)
- Silverline (Formula Junior Historic Racing Association)
MUSEUM / COLLECTION OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Magneto
- Silverstone Museum
- Petersen Automotive Museum
- National Motor Museum (Beaulieu)
- Autoworld Museum (Brussels)
- Museo Alfa Romeo
- Nationales Automuseum The Loh Collection
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
DIGITAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR
- The Late Brake Show (Jonny Smith)
- Richard Hammond’s Workshop (Richard Hammond / Chimp Television)
- Harry’s Garage (Harry Metcalfe)
- Jay Leno’s Garage (Jay Leno)
- Petersen Automotive Museum, video and social media
- Vintage Velocity podcast (VSCC)
- Hagerty Media, multi-media platform
- Boxengasse, social media