The Royal Automobile Club (RAC) has issued a final call for nominations for the prestigious Dewar Trophy, with entries closing on Tuesday 30 September 2025. Recognised as one of the rarest and most distinguished accolades in automotive engineering, the Dewar Trophy honours outstanding British technical achievement and has, over more than a century, celebrated the innovators who have shaped motoring history.
A Legacy of Engineering Excellence
First presented in 1904 by Sir Thomas Dewar MP, the Dewar Trophy is awarded only when the Club’s Technical Committee identifies a contender of truly exceptional merit. Unlike annual awards that are handed out routinely, the Dewar Trophy is a testament to transformative achievement in the automotive field.
Its roll call of recipients reads like a history of British engineering innovation. Early winners included Dennis Brothers Limited, whose 20hp car completed 4,000 miles in 1906, while more recent laureates include Cosworth, recognised in 2024 for developing ultra-high-performance internal combustion engines powering the world’s most exciting hypercars. Past awardees have encompassed a broad spectrum of achievement: Rover (1950, gas-turbine cars), Dunlop (1957, disc brakes), Alec Issigonis and the BMC Mini (1959), and Keith Duckworth for the legendary Cosworth DFV engine (1969).
In the 21st century, the award has continued to highlight boundary-pushing innovation: Ford’s EcoBoost engine (2012), Gordon Murray Design’s iStream technology (2016), JCB’s ABH2 hydrogen engine (2021), the Mercedes-AMG ONE F1 powertrain (2022), and YASA’s axial-flux electric motor (2023).
Eligible Fields for Nomination
The Dewar Trophy recognises achievement across all aspects of automotive innovation. Entries are invited in areas including, but not limited to:
- Internal combustion engine cycle efficiency improvements
- Race car technology
- Hybrid powertrains and fuel cells
- Lightweight structures and advanced materials
- Vehicle electronics, electrical systems, and intelligent transport solutions
- Safety, sustainability, and aerodynamics
The Simms Silver Medal
Alongside the Dewar Trophy, the RAC also invites nominations for the Simms Silver Medal, which honours outstanding contributions to motoring innovation by individuals or small companies. Named after the Club’s founding member Frederick Simms, this award recognises genuine ingenuity in the spirit of pioneering engineering. The 2024 recipient, Maeving, was celebrated for its British-designed and built electric motorcycles.
Judging Panel
All submissions will be rigorously reviewed by the Dewar Technical Committee, a panel of leading experts including:
- Ben Cussons, Chairman of the Dewar Technical Committee
- Steve Cropley, Editor-in-Chief, Autocar
- Pat Symonds, Motor Racing Engineer
- Professor David Greenwood, University of Warwick
- Dan Parry-Williams, Director of IQUAD Technology and past winner
How to Enter
Entries to the Dewar Trophy and Simms Silver Medal are free. Nominations should include a supporting statement of up to 500 words, contact details, and any substantiating evidence. Shortlisted contenders will be invited for an interview with the Technical Committee.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Royal Automobile Club’s Pall Mall clubhouse in London on Tuesday 28 October 2025.
Submit Your Nomination
This is a rare opportunity to have your innovation recognised alongside some of the most celebrated names in motoring history. Entries must be submitted by Tuesday 30 September 2025 to Jemma Rowe at [email protected].
About the Royal Automobile Club
Founded in 1897, the Royal Automobile Club’s history mirrors that of motoring itself. Awarded its Royal title by King Edward VII in 1907, the Club has been at the forefront of promoting the motor car, organising historic events such as the 1000 Mile Trial (1900) and the first Tourist Trophy (1905), and campaigning for motorists’ rights, including introducing the first driving licences.
Today, the RAC continues to champion automobilism through representation in the FIA and the RAC Foundation while promoting premier events like London Motor Week, culminating in the RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. Alongside the Dewar Trophy and Simms Medal, the Club awards a series of historic trophies celebrating motoring achievement, including the Segrave Trophy, Tourist Trophy, Torrens Trophy, and the Diamond Jubilee Trophy.
For engineers, innovators, and pioneers of British automotive excellence, the Dewar Trophy represents the pinnacle of recognition. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this extraordinary legacy.
