Power Unleashed: Trailblazers who Energised Engines with Supercharging and Turbocharging by renowned automotive historian Karl Ludvigsen, and published by Evro Publishing, has been crowned the Royal Automobile Club’s 2025 Motoring Book of the Year.
The announcement was made at a special ceremony in central London last night, attended by distinguished motoring and motor racing authors and publishers from around the world.
Ludvigsen is one of the world’s most respected automotive historians and authors, whose career has spanned more than six decades. The author, who is 91, has written landmark works on Porsche, Corvette and Mercedes-Benz, and his deep technical knowledge combined with narrative flair has made his books essential reading for enthusiasts and engineers alike.
Power Unleashed represents the culmination of Karl Ludvigsen’s lifetime of research into the evolution of supercharging and turbocharging. The three-volume work running to 665,000 words charts how engineers and visionaries revolutionised the performance of cars and aircraft through forced induction.
With Ludvigsen’s trademark clarity and authority, the volumes bring complex technologies to life, showing how these power-boosting technologies transformed Grand Prix racing, Le Mans, and everyday motoring.
Upon accepting the award, Karl Ludvigsen said “It’s deeply gratifying to see Power Unleashed recognised in this way. Forced induction has fascinated me since I was a student engineer in the 1950s, and this project represents a lifelong journey of discovery. I hope readers will share my admiration for the brilliant minds who turned air and pressure into power. I would like to extend my thanks to Evro Publishing for their belief in this project and their superb work in making it a reality.”
Jeremy Vaughan, Head of Motoring at the Royal Automobile Club, commented “Power Unleashed is a towering achievement and a truly definitive work. It is beautifully produced, deeply researched, and stands as a landmark publication that will serve as an important reference for engineers, historians, and enthusiasts alike.
“Here at the Club, we’re proud to recognise such excellence in motoring literature, and we’re grateful to our expert panel of independent judges for their passion, knowledge and dedication. The Book Awards represents our part in encouraging the best new work.”
Other books to win on the night (topping categories with and without a £50 price limit) included: Meyers Manx 1964-2024 by Basem Wasef; Joseph Figoni: Le Grand Couturier de la Carrosserie Automobile Vol. II–IV: Bugatti by Peter M. Larsen & Ben Erickson; A.J. Foyt – Vol. 1: Survivor, Champion, Legend by Art Garner and My Travels On Racer Road: Can-Am and Formula 1 in their Golden Age by Pete Lyons.
The Graham Robson Award for Best Debut Author was presented to Alejo Pérez Monsalvo for De Tomaso: Racing Blue Blood.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was posthumously awarded to Gordon Cruickshank, celebrating his exceptional influence and enduring contribution to the UK’s motoring and motorsport literary scene.
Cruickshank, a name synonymous with integrity and passion, served as Deputy Editor of Motor Sport magazine for more than three decades, and his contribution helped shape the very voice of British motorsport writing. His deep historical knowledge, sharp editorial eye, and unwavering commitment to accuracy earned him immense respect among peers and enthusiasts.
Beyond his editorial achievements, Gordon was a tireless advocate for motoring literature, ensuring that the great stories from the golden age of racing to the modern era were told with intelligence, authenticity, and heart. He also triumphed over enormous personal adversity to always remain sparkling company.