Royal Automobile Club’s Simms Medal awarded to Maeving For its innovative electric motorbikes designed and built in Britain The Simms Medal, named after the Club’s founder, was presented to Seb Inglis-Jones, who co-founded Maeving in 2018 with Will Stirrup to open a new era for the British motorcycle industry. In the year the two friends founded their business, just 297 electric motorbikes were sold in the UK, while over 20m of them found buyers in China. However, the partners’ plan to import and sell Chinese-made models for the British market was soon parked when they decided the quality wasn’t good enough, and that removable batteries were key for ease of use in town and beyond. In 2023 Maeving launched its first models, the RM1 and RM1S and the initial batch sold out within hours. It immediately became the best-seller in its sector. Following the tradition of legendary motorcycle names including Triumph, Norton and BSA, Maeving opened its factory in the West Midlands, in Coventry, and in doing so became Britain’s first electric motorcycle manufacturer. Inglis-Jones and Stirrup met and bonded at Durham University and decided that one day they would open a business together. But the idea for an electric motorbike only came when Inglis-Jones bought one for his daily commute. “We questioned why electric motorbikes lagged in sales and identified the single most important factor: removable batteries,” said Inglis-Jones. “So our innovation addresses the primary barrier to electric adoption – insufficient charging infrastructure – by allowing riders to power up from any standard socket. “This approach contrasted with what major Western manufacturers were doing: designing heavy, high-powered models that served as alternatives to popular internal combustion-engined motorcycles, but often struggled with reliance on inadequate charging infrastructure.” A deep and shared respect for the planet was another reason why the two gave up their jobs in the corporate world to found Maeving, and since then they have recruited what Inglis-Jones calls “one of the most talent-dense engineering teams in the world, with over 200 years of combined industry experience”, to help them. The team includes Graeme Gilbert, former Head of Product at Triumph. “This idea stemmed from the notable discrepancy in electric two-wheeler sales between the East and West,” Will Stirrup added. “The level of experience and expertise in the Midlands is unparalleled. Harnessing this has made Maeving’s motorcycles the embodiment of craftsmanship and innovation. “The whole Maeving team is thrilled that the Royal Automobile Club recognises our vision with the Simms Medal.” Maeving joins a rollcall of British talent to have received the Simms Medal, which is presented only in years when the judges feel there is a worthy winner. This has included McMurtry Automotive, Williams Advanced Engineering, Riversimple and the Ariel Motor Company, as well as individuals such as Richard Parry-Jones CBE and Dr Rob Lewis OBE. A full list of previous winners is given below. Ben Cussons, Chairman of the judges on the Royal Automobile Club Technical Committee (which awards the Simms Medal alongside the Dewar Trophy) said: “Maeving’s achievement in designing and building an attractive and innovative electric motorcycle in the UK is a project that Frederick Simms would have been proud of. The business exudes the passion of its founders but has the financial backing and commercial nous that will help it achieve its ambitious aims.” Previous winners of the Simms Medal 2023 – Alex Summers for his P4t hillclimb car. 2022 – McMurtry Automotive for the conception, design and manufacture of the stunning McMurtry Spéirling, 2021 – Dr Rob Lewis OBE for the development of the Catesby Tunnel Test Facility and the associated Innovation Centre. 2019 – Zef Eisenberg: a man driven by technology and demonstrating its potential in the most extreme manner. 2017 – HIPERCAR Consortium for the development of the HIPERCAR. 2016 – Riversimple for the development of the Rasa hydrogen fuel cell electric car. 2015 – Williams Advanced Engineering for the design, development and production of the battery powering Formula E racing cars. 2013 – Lord Paul Drayson for setting four Electric World Land Speed Records for sub-999kg vehicles. 2012 – Ben Bowlby for his brilliant realisation of the groundbreaking DeltaWing racing car. 2009 – World Steam Land Speed Record team, with a special dedication to former Project Manager, the late Mr Frank Swanston, for breaking the 103-year-old world record and raising it to an average of 148.308mph for two consecutive runs over a measured kilometre. 2007 – Richard Parry-Jones CBE, in recognition of his immense contribution to the UK and world automobile industry (as the Ford Motor Company Group Vice President and Chief Technical Officer). 2006 – Bill Gibson of Zytek, for developments in the fields of motorsport and electric vehicles. 2005 – Simon Saunders of Ariel Motor Company for designing the Ariel Atom sports car. 2004 – Professor Gary Savage of the BAR Formula 1 team for its carbon fibre gearbox. 2003 – Mick Hyde of Radical Motorsport for the SR3 sports racing car.
The Royal Automobile Club awards Cosworth the 2024 Dewar Trophy The Royal Automobile Club’s coveted Dewar Trophy was awarded to revered British manufacturer Cosworth, for developing ultra-high-performance internal-combustion engines to power some of the world’s most exciting ‘hypercars’. The Northamptonshire-based company, whose history runs in parallel with Britain’s rising dominance since the 1960s of Formula 1, was highly praised by the Dewar Trophy judging panel. Not only for the design, development and manufacture of normally-aspirated engines that give extraordinary levels of performance, but also for the business strategy behind them. The power units are at the heart of the most exciting road cars of this automotive era, including the Aston Martin Valkyrie, Red Bull RB17 and Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA) T50. Cosworth is also producing the V16 engine for Bugatti’s upcoming Tourbillon hypercar. Commenting on the Dewar Trophy award, Dr Florian Kamelger, Cosworth CEO, said: “We are incredibly proud to receive the Dewar Trophy. It is a testament to the hard work of our talented team and the innovative solutions we are bringing to market. As we continue to evolve and redefine the future of luxury automotive performance, this recognition underscores Cosworth’s commitment to delivering technologies that are at the forefront of automotive excellence. “What sets Cosworth apart is, I believe, our strategic and process-driven engineering approach, one that ensures excellence in both the final product and the way it’s conceived, designed, and brought to life.” The Dewar Trophy has been associated with numerous British automotive design achievements over many decades. Named after Sir Thomas Dewar, it was originally presented in 1904 and today It is awarded for ‘An outstanding British technical achievement in the automotive industry.’ It is awarded at the discretion of the Royal Automobile Club’s Technical Committee, in any year when its panel of experts believe there are contenders of sufficient merit. Previous winners have included Dunlop, Jaguar, Ford, YASA and JCB. Cosworth won it for the first time in 1969 for the performance of its DFV Formula 1 power unit. Bruce Wood, Managing Director of Cosworth, added: “Our recent collaborations with some of the world’s most prestigious automotive and motorsport brands have been pivotal in securing the Dewar Trophy and further highlight Cosworth’s leadership in high-performance automotive engineering. “We believe that the obituary for internal combustion engines is being written prematurely; while electric mobility is part of the future roadmap, there remains a crucial space for high-performance internal combustion engines in niche applications such as hypercars.” Cosworth’s highly advanced engines are very high-revving and produce exceptionally high specific power outputs. Yet they also have to be manufactured in numbers that would be too large for most specialists, and too small for a major carmaker. Today, Cosworth’s commitment to innovation is reflected in its continuous investment in state-of-the-art development technologies and capabilities. Through developing the ability to design, prototype and manufacture these production road car units, Cosworth has shown true innovation, and is another great British success story worthy of the Dewar Trophy accolade. Ben Cussons, Chairman of the Dewar Technical Committee, said: “It is testament to the innovative nature of the British motor industry that the Royal Automobile Club is able to award the Dewar Trophy to a previous winner. Fifty-five years since it last won, Cosworth has demonstrated how it has used its outstanding design, development and manufacturing capability to become the world leader in normally aspirated ICE hypercar powertrain production. Truly an organisation that never rests on its laurels.”
Club Concours 2025 Over 200 of the world’s finest road and track cars were showcased, spanning pioneering models to modern-day supercars and Formula 1 legends. The inaugural Royal Automobile Club Concours, held on Wednesday 9 July, has been widely celebrated as a resounding success and a welcome addition to the Club’s prestigious motoring event portfolio. This portfolio also includes London Motor Week, the St James’s Motoring Spectacle on Pall Mall, the Club’s Historic Awards and the world-famous RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. Set against a backdrop of glorious summer sunshine, this brand new motoring event took place in the stunning grounds of the Club’s historic Woodcote Park estate, adjacent to Epsom Downs in Surrey. In a first for the Club, members of select car clubs were invited to the picturesque parkland estate, enjoying a truly wonderful garden party atmosphere alongside Club members. With gleaming paintwork and shining chrome under clear blue skies, the elegant new festival was officially opened by Club Chairman Duncan Wiltshire and event hosts Amanda Stretton and Will Smith. The centrepiece of the event was the prestigious Club Concours, accompanied by six stunning Feature Displays, the dazzling RM Sotheby’s Supercar Boulevard, and the eclectic Lockton Members’ Paddock – a spectacular motor show treasure trove in its own right. The Club Concours featured seven distinctive classes: Grand Tourers, Riviera, Coachbuilder’s Art, Limousines, Mille Miglia, Pioneers, and Motorcycles. A panel of expert judges – including five-time Le Mans winner Derek Bell MBE, esteemed car designer Peter Stevens, and beloved television presenter and classic car enthusiast Alan Titchmarsh CBE – selected winners for each category, as well as the highly coveted Best in Show. The top honour was awarded in front of the imposing Clubhouse to a unique 1927 Bentley 3-litre Boat-Tail Speed Model, owned by the Jaques family. Adorned with its exquisite Martin Walter body, the car is well known to the Royal Automobile Club, having previously taken joint first prize in the Restoration category at the Club’s Historic Awards last year. “I’m absolutely delighted with the jury’s decision,” said Ben Cussons, Chairman of the Judges. “This is a stunning example of 1920s coachbuilding, when owners would purchase a chassis, engine and gearbox, and then choose a body style. Bentleys of the era are usually associated with Le Mans, yet this boat-tail body – complete with ensign flying at the stern and sculpted wings – is very different. “The car also carries a powerful family story: it underwent nearly a decade of restoration, during which time its owner Chris Jacques passed away. His son has seen the project through to completion. I’m sure Chris is looking down on us all today, smiling.” Other notable winners included the iconic Rolls-Royce Phantom V once owned by John Lennon, Carl Fogarty’s 2000 Ducati 996 F00 Superbike, and the extraordinary 1936 Packard Twelve by LeBaron – featured in The Godfather movies. A full list of winners appears below. Several Feature Displays paid tribute to the Club’s key contributions to motoring and motorsport history. In 1900 – 125 years ago – the Club organised the 1000 Mile Trial, a pioneering event traversing the UK. This allowed early manufacturers to demonstrate their innovations and gave many spectators their first glimpse of motor vehicles. Among those early cars was an 1899 Wolseley 3.5hp Voiturette cherished by the British Motor Museum at Gaydon, proudly shown among the other Victorian and Edwardian vehicles at Woodcote Park. Five years after the ground-breaking 1000 Mile Trial, the Club launched the first Tourist Trophy road race in the Isle of Man. In 1950, it oversaw the first points-scoring Formula 1 World Championship race at Silverstone. Both milestones were honoured with dedicated displays, including the iconic Tourist Trophy and the golden British Grand Prix Trophy – newly engraved with Lando Norris’s name following his stirring win last Sunday. Additional displays celebrated the 75th anniversaries of both British Motoring and BRM. The British Motoring showcase featured exquisite Aston Martins and Jaguars. The BRM tribute included the notorious BRM V16 F1 from the 1950s, Graham Hill OBE’s 1962 title-winning ‘Old Faithful’ BRM P578, and the gas-turbine Rover-BRM that raced at Le Mans in 1965 with Hill and Sir Jackie Stewart OBE. To mark 100 years of the Phantom – the longest-used model name in automotive history – a breath-taking assembly of these illustrious Rolls-Royces was also on display. This included the one-of-a-kind 1928 17EX Phantom prototype, complete with its original boat-tail design. For lovers of modern exotica, the RM Sotheby’s Supercar Boulevard offered a rare chance to admire limited-edition Ferrari Monza SP1, SP2, and Daytona SP3 models – all showcased together in resplendent style. “I could not be prouder of what’s been achieved here at Woodcote Park,” said Club Chairman Duncan Wiltshire as the event concluded. “The fabulous grounds lend themselves perfectly to an occasion like this, and everyone embraced the spirit of the event magnificently. That includes our enthusiastic partners, the groundskeepers, banqueting staff, the owners of these incredible cars, our brilliant judges and, perhaps most of all, the Motoring Committee and team here at Woodcote Park. I thank and congratulate them all.” Royal Automobile Club Concours Winners Grand Tourers: There and BackJudges: Vanessa Marçais & Andrew Hall Winner: 1958 Bristol 406S owned by Gale Barton Riviera: Great Rays of SunshineJudges: Michael Squire & Alan Titchmarsh CBE Winner: 1938 Talbot Lago T15 cabriolet owned by Felix & Toby Ross Mille Miglia: 1000 Miles on the ClockJudges: Katarina Kyvalova & Marc Newson CBE RDI Winner: Ferrari 166 MM/53 Spider owned by Lord Anthony Bamford Coachbuilder’s Art: Handmade PerfectionJudges: Georgina Wood & Derek Bell MBE Winner: 1932 Bentley 8-litre by HJ Mulliner owned by Mihai Negrescu Limousines: The ‘Being Driven’ Big BeastsJudges: Georgina Wood & Derek Bell MBE Winner: Rolls-Royce Phantom V owned by Jody Klein Pioneers: RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran CarsJudges: Allan Winn & Peter Stevens Winner: 1902 Napier D45 Tonneau owned by Clive Boothman Motorcycles: Looks a Pillion DollarsJudges: Maria Costello MBE & Michael Quinn Winner: 2000 Ducati 996 F00 Superbike
