Cops, robbers and fast cars feature earns Ryan Standen the Guild of Motoring Writers’ Toyota Young Writer of the Year Award 

A tale of ‘90s fast cars, speeding robbers and pursuing police has won Ryan Standen the Toyota Young Writer of the Year Award in the 2024 Guild of Motoring Writers Awards.  

Standen’s feature for Classic and Sports Car Magazine told the story of “40 RA”, a Vauxhall Lotus Carlton that was stolen by a criminal gang and used as a get-away car in series of corner shop raids in the West Midlands. With a top speed beyond 160mph, the saloon was able to outrun the long arm of the law, until a helicopter was brought into the chase. Perhaps knowing the game was up, the thieves dumped the car in a canal. 

The judges were impressed with Standen’s forensic research, interviews with key players, including the original owner, and a drive of another Lotus Carlton that now carries the famous 40 RA number plate.  

“Using social media, I discovered that 40 RA’s original owner had bought another Lotus Carlton in 2022 and given it the now infamous number plate. I decided it would be interesting to try to gather all the information about the Carlton and what happened to it,” said Standen, from Portsmouth, who was recruited as an editorial assistant at Classic and Sports Car earlier this year. 

Standen collected his honour at the guild’s annual dinner and awards evening at the Royal Automobile Club in London on Thursday (5 December). 

Joining Standen on the shortlist for the award were Alex Wolstenholme, of Autocar, and Yousuf Ashraf, of Evo magazine.  

The Toyota Young Writer of the Year Award is open to both guild members and non-members aged under 30. 

ENDS