2025 marked the passing of many of the motoring world’s most influential figures. Across motor sport, design, engineering and journalism, their achievements left a lasting imprint on automotive history.
Pat Appleyard 1927-2025
Daughter of Sir William Lyons, rally great in her own right
Gene Winfield 1927-2025
Custom car legend
Ed Pink 1931-2025
Drag race engine builder known as the old master
Dennis Adams 1932-2025
A car designer immortalised by a Clockwork Orange
Nigel Allen 1932-2025
Instrumental in the early days of Lotus
Bob Garretson 1933-2025
WEC Great and FIA Hall of Famer
Stuart Turner 1933-2025
BMC and Ford comps genius, author and raconteur
Fred Lorenzen 1934-2024
NASCAR driver dubbed The Elmhurst Express
Bill Price 1935-2025
BMC/BL Competitions manager and author
Ian Fraser 1936-2025
Australian magazine editor and publisher
Ercole Spada 1937-2025
Chief stylist at Zagato, a true design great
Humpy Wheeler 1938-2025
Charlotte Motor Speedway president
Enzo Osella 1939-2025
Ran his team in 132 Formula 1 Grands Prix
Bob Sharp 1939-2025
Datsun Ace who introduced Paul Newman to racing
Michael Bowler 1939-2025
Aston Martin Lagonda director, racer and journalist
Victor Riley 1940-2025
Key custodian of Riley Heritage
Colin Crabbe 1942-2025
Motoring archaeologist collector, dealer, racer, entrant
Aubrey Finburgh 1942-2025
Classic car hunter, collector and restorer
Claudio Lombardi 1942-2025
FIAT and Lancia engineering icon
Bobby Allen 1943-2025
US Sprint-Car legend and karting world champion
David Bishop 1944-2025
Saviour of British Motor Heritage
Jochen Mass 1946-2025
German Formula 1, endurance and historic racer
Penny Woodley 1946-2025
Jaguar aficionado and author
Peter Wright 1946-2025
Ground effect pioneer and F1 safety champion
Tom Matano 1947-2025
Father of the Mazda MX-5
Eddie Jordan 1948-2025
F1 team owner and television pundit
Anders Ditlev Clausager 1949-2025
Author and British motor industry heritage expert
Robin Hamilton 1949-2025
Aston Martin dealer and racer
Al Speyer 1952-2025
Mastermind Firestone’s return to IndyCar
Julian Grimwade 1953-2025
Vintage and historic racer
Gordon Cruickshank 1955-2024
Motorsport journalist and historian
John Kraman 1956-2025
US auction stalwart, the voice of Mecum
Quentin Willson 1957-2025
Journalist, broadcaster and former Top Gear presenter
Suzanne Kottulinsky 1960-2025
Top-level Swedish rally driver
Marc Sonnery 1964-2025
Journalist, author and Masterati specialist
Michael Turner 1934-2025
Renowned motorsport and aviation artist
Ian Khan 1960-2025
British racing driver who competed in the BTCC, FIA GT and FIA GT3
Allan Moffat 1939-2025
Legendary Canadian-Australian touring-car racer and multiple championship winner
Robert Clarke 1949-2025
Revered builder behind Honda Performance Development (HPD)
Andrea de Adamich 1941-2025
Italian racing driver and pundit who competed in Formula 1 and the World SportsCar Championship
Chris Rea 1951-2025
Musician, songwriter and lifelong car enthusiast
