The International Historic Motoring Awards (IHMA), presented by Lockton, has announce this year’s contenders – celebrating the remarkable people, machines, clubs, museums, media and institutions driving excellence throughout the historic car world.
Experts and enthusiasts from across the globe made over 400 nominations across 16 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 and the new for 2026 category Youth Initiative of the Year. 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 renowned car designer Peter Stevens, co-creator of London's Design Museum Stephen Bayley and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance global ambassador Sandra Button. 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 13. 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 16th running in 2026, 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 Petersen Automotive Museum, Nyetimber, Revs Institute, and Octane and Magneto magazines. Hothouse Media co-founder and managing director Geoff Love, said: “This year’s shortlist is particularly strong, with some exceptional achievements across every category.
“I’m especially pleased to see the introduction of Youth Initiative of the Year, recognising the organisations developing the next generation of talent on which the future of historic motoring depends.”
Awards Categories:
CAR OF THE YEAR
Sunbeam 1000hp
Auto Union Lucca
The 1-2-3 1966 Le Mans Ford GT40s
Bluebird K7
The Clark Gable Duesenberg SSJ
JCB Hydromax
McLaren F1 GTR chassis 10R
McLaren M6GT recreation
Lola T70S continuation
Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe chassis CSX2300
Public voting is open at historicmotoringawards.co.uk until October 30, 2026.
RESTORATION OF THE YEAR
Thomas 'Flatiron'
Duesenberg Special Speedster SSJ, chassis J-567
Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport, chassis 110109
Aston Martin V8 Vantage Moulded Fliptail, chassis V8/11928/LCAV
Bentley 3 Litre, XT1606
BMW 328 Mille Miglia 'Bügelfalte', chassis 85032
Ferrari 375 America Vignale Cabriolet, chassis 0353 AL
Lancia D20 Berlinetta
Sunbeam 1000hp
Williams FW25 Formula 1
BESPOKE CAR OF THE YEAR
In partnership with: Octane Magazine
Auto Union Lucca
Bizzarrini 5300 Aperta Lusso
Ruf Boxer 8 Erprober
Daytona Shooting Brake Hommage by Niels van Roij Design
Ford Escort Mk1 RS by Boreham Motorworks
Gordon Murray Special Vehicle S1
Lola T70S GT
McLaren McL 6GT
Morgan Midsummer Coupé
Spyker C8 Preliator XXV
MOTORING BOOK OF THE YEAR
Against All the Others: Porsche's Racing History, Volume 2 - 1969 by Randy Leffingwell
A.J. Foyt Legacy Volume 2 by Art Garner
Aston Martin: The Entire Story by Russell Hayes
Heroes of the Forest: The Complete History of the Pebble Beach Road Race by Mark Brinker
Lella Lombardi - The Tigress of Turin by John Saltinstall
Maserati 250S A Legendary Formula 1 Car by Walter Baeumer and Jean-Francois Blachette
Porsche 964 Carrera RS by Christoph Mäder
The Ferrari 250 GTO Spotting Guide by Yan-Alexandre Damasiewicz
Ultimate Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona by Porter Press International
Whitney Straight: Racing Driver, War Hero, Industrialist by Paul Kenny
BREAKTHROUGH EVENT OF THE YEAR
Anantara Concorso Roma (Anantara Rome)
Cavallino Classic Monaco (Canossa Events)
Concours d'Élégance International Schlumpf (Musée National de l'Automobile)
Royal Bahrain Concours (Thorough Events)
Wilton House Concours des Légendes (Pembroke Events/Hothouse Media)
CLUB OF THE YEAR
In partnership with: Lockton
3A Lyon (Amateurs Automobiles Anciennes Lyon)
Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA)
Berkshire and District Classic Car Club
Club Lotus
Lamborghini Club UK
Porsche Club Great Britain
Vintage Sports-Car Club
INDUSTRY SUPPORTER OF THE YEAR
In partnership with: Revs Institute
Aramco
BMW Group
Classic Car Services
Ford Heritage
Motul
Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)
MOTOR SPORT EVENT OF THE YEAR
Benjafield’s 500 (Benjafields Racing Club)
Circuit des Remparts d'Angoulême (Classic Grand Touring)
Grand Prix de Monaco Historique (Automobile Club de Monaco)
Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix (Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Association)
Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion (WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca)
VSCC Pomeroy Trophy (Vintage Sports Car Club)
WeatherTech Vintage Weekend with Brian Redman (Road America)
MOTORING EVENT OF THE YEAR
In partnership with: Nyetimber
Brooklands Museum Grand Prix Centenary
Chantilly Arts & Élégance Richard Mille
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
Prewar Days
Rétromobile
The Aurora
The Oberoi Concours d’Elegance
PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR
Aaron Shelby for coordinating the return of all three Ford/Shelby GT40 Le Mans-winning cars to England for Goodwood’s Festival of Speed and Revival, commemorating the 60th anniversary of their historic victory.
Jay Leno for his successful campaign to secure California’s Leno’s Law, protecting access to collector cars and preserving automotive heritage for future generations.
Lord Bamford for spearheading JCB Hydromax, which set a world land speed record of 406.320mph in 2026, making it the fastest hydrogen-powered vehicle in history.
Manvendra Singh for dedicating more than five decades to preserving and promoting India’s automotive heritage through restoration, historical research and the curation of internationally renowned concourse events.
Mark Hastings for leading Brooklands Museum’s Grand Prix Centenary, bringing together more than 120 historic Grand Prix and Formula 1 cars to celebrate 100 years of British Grand Prix racing.
Rob Manson for spearheading the 75th-anniversary celebrations of the Pebble Beach Road Races, bringing together 40 historic cars and championing the preservation and promotion of California’s motorsport heritage.
Tom Hartley Jnr for opening his purpose-built headquarters in 2026, creating a world-class destination for the collector-car community and investing in the future of the industry.
SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR
CKL Developments
Classic Car Services
Mecum Auctions
Paul Russell & Company
Thornley Kelham
Walter Heale Historic Motor Cars
RALLY OR TOUR OF THE YEAR
Badawï Trail to the Last Oasis (HERO-ERA)
Arctic Sun Classic (Classic Rallies)
Rallye des Princesses Richard Mille (Peter Auto)
Royal Rajasthan (Bespoke Rallies)
The Cape 1000
The Winter Trial (Classic Events)
YOUTH INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
In partnership with: Petersen Automotive Museum
ArtCenter College of Design
Heritage Skills Academy
HERO-ERA Rally for the Ages
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
McPherson College
Piston Foundation
RPM Foundation
StarterMotor Limited
Stichting SLS Classic
RACE SERIES OF THE YEAR
Alfa Revival Cup (Canossa Events)
Formula Junior Historic Racing Association
GT3 Revival (Peter Auto)
IROC (IROC Holdings)
Masters Racing Legends (Masters Historic Racing)
MUSEUM / COLLECTION OF THE YEAR
In partnership with: Magneto Magazine
Brooklands Museum
M24 – Musée du Sport Automobile
Museo Nicolis
Musée National de l'Automobile, Collection Schlumpf
Nationales Automuseum The Loh Collection
The Bugatti Trust Museum and Study Centre
The Ruskin Museum
Wood Brothers Racing
DIGITAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR
Audrain Museum Network
Automotive Masterpieces
Brooklands Museum Grand Prix Centenary
Mecum Auctions
Revs Institute
The Classic Car Register
Club Lotus Digital Heritage Archive
Torque Media
