International automotive literature celebrates its best new publications
Munich, 10. September 2026. Motorworld München became a meeting place for authors, publishers, media representatives, motoring enthusiasts and leading figures from the mobility sector. The winners of the 2026 Motorworld Buchpreis were honoured during the event. From around 50 recent publications, the high-calibre expert jury, chaired by Jürgen Lewandowski, the internationally renowned motoring journalist, selected the best new releases in the categories ‘Biography’, ‘Motorsport’, ‘History’, ‘Design’, ‘English-language books’ and ‘From around the world’. With Dr Stefan Piëch, Ferdinand Rudolf Porsche, motorsport pioneer Jochen Neerpasch and Felix Timmer, grandson of the Austrian sports car manufacturer Wolfgang Denzel, distinguished guests lent the awards ceremony a special splendour.
Sarah Dünkel, CCO of the Motorworld Group, opened the event and welcomed authors, publishers, media representatives and the numerous guests to the unique atmosphere of Motorworld Munich. “The Motorworld Buchpreis celebrates the stories, personalities and innovations that shape automotive culture. It is particularly important to us to honour authors and publishers who preserve this knowledge with great passion and bring it to life for future generations,” emphasised Sarah Dünkel. Jürgen Lewandowski, the initiator and chair of the jury for the Motorworld Buchpreis, then presided over the awards ceremony and paid tribute to the winners and their outstanding works with personal laudatory speeches. He placed the works within the context of international automotive literature and impressively highlighted their special significance for automotive culture and contemporary history. With the 2026 awards, the Motorworld Buchpreis once again underlines its commitment to honouring the best new publications in international automotive literature. The award-winning works combine excellent research, in-depth specialist knowledge and exceptional storytelling. They bring the fascination of the motor car to life in all its facets. “The Motorworld Buchpreis is far more than just an awards ceremony. It celebrates the ideas, the spirit of innovation, the racing DNA, adventure and, above all, the passion for motoring that inspires people of all ages,” explained Jürgen Lewandowski. The prize thus remains an important platform for authors, publishers and everyone who preserves and passes on the stories behind motoring.
The winners of the Motorworld Buchpreis 2026:
Category Biography
1st place: Jörg-Thomas Födisch / Achim Schlang
Jochen Mass – Eine Rennsport-Ikone
Honourary Award: Thomas Ammann / Karl Ludvigsen
Ferdinand Porsche – Mensch, Visionär, Familienunternehmer
Honourary Award: Siegfried Tesche
Motor Legenden – The Rolling Stones
Category Motorsport
1st place: Jörg-Thomas Födisch / Michael Behrndt / Rainer Roßbach / Nils Ruwisch
Comeback des Nürburgrings
Honourary Award: Frank Kuhlemann
BMW M und BMW in der Formel 1
Category History
1st place: Hans Peter Würsten / Günter Engelen
Mercedes-Benz 170 V/170 S/220
Honourary Award: Alexander Diego Fritz
Denzel Sportwagen
Honourary Award: Jean-Philippe Müller
Bugatti 64
Category Design
1st place: Frank Rocholl
Under the Sun Vol. 2 Ferrari
Honourary Award: Michael Dörrenberg
Grenzenlos – Supercar Norwegentouren
Category English-language books
1st place: Daniel Cabart, Denis Cohignac, Patrick Rollet, Gautam Sen
A Century of Concours d’Elegance
Honourary Award: Gautam Sen
Lancia Stratos Zero
Honourary Award: Walter Bäumer / Jean-François Blachette
Maserati 250F – A Legendary Formula 1 Car
Category From around the world
Honourary Award: Stephen Bayley
Death Drive
Honourary Award: Ulrich Biene
Siku – Die Autowelt im Kinderzimmer
Honourary Award: Volker Neumann
Automobil Kühlerfiguren
Honourary Award: Roland Seiter
Baden-Baden – The Hidden Motor City
Honourary Award: Ellen Wilhelm
Into the Far – Vier Jahre im Land Rover
Special mentions:
The jury also gave special recognition to the following publications from Porter Press:
- John S. Allan, Graham Endeacott, Mark Cole, Mike Teske: Ultimate Ford GT40 – The Definitive History – Vol. 2
- Randy Leffingwell: Against All the Others – Porsche Racing History 1969
Quotes:
On the Honourary Prize awarded to the book Ferdinand Porsche – Mensch, Visionär, Familienunternehmer, by the authors Thomas Ammann and Karl Ludvigsen, in the Biography category:
Dr. Stefan Piëch, great grandson of Dr. Ing. h.c. Ferdinand Porsche, founder of the Porsche brand: “This book offers a very personal insight into Ferdinand Porsche and preserves memories that go beyond the history of technology. We are therefore particularly delighted to receive this recognition from the Motorworld Buchpreis.“
Ferdinand Rudolf Porsche, great grandson of Dr. Ing. h.c. Ferdinand Porsche, founder of the Porsche brand: “The particular value of this work lies in the fact that it reveals not only the visionary and entrepreneur, but also Ferdinand Porsche as a person. Thomas Ammann and Karl Ludvigsen have succeeded in capturing this perspective in a most impressive way.”
On the Honourary Prize awarded to the book BMW M und BMW in der Formel 1, by the author Frank Kuhlemann, in the Motorsport category:
Jochen Neerpasch, motorsport legend and founder of the BMW Motorsport GmbH: “I was fortunate enough to witness and help shape many of the developments described in the book. Frank Kuhlemann has recounted this story with great care and an impressive level of detail. The Motorworld Buchpreise´s Honourary Award is a well-deserved tribute to this exceptional work.”
On the Honourary Prize awarded to the book Denzel Sportwagen, by the author Alexander Diego Fritz, in the History category:
Felix Timmer, grandson of Wolfgang Denzel: “Alexander Diego Fritz has succeeded not only in documenting the history of Denzel sports cars, but also in bringing it to life. I am particularly delighted that this special chapter in Austrian motoring history has been honoured with a Honourary Award at the Motorworld Buchpreis. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the jury for this well-deserved honour.”
The jury for the Motorworld Buchpreises 2026 comprises the following members:
Jürgen Lewandowski (Chair of the Jury), Sarah Dünkel (CCO Motorworld Group), Christian Bauer (Chairman of the Management Board HYMER GmbH & Co. KG), Frank Marrenbach (Managing Partner Althoff Hotels), Michael Stoschek (Chairman of the Shareholders´ Meeting Brose Fahrzeugteile) and Andreas Kaufmann (Chairman of the Supervisory Board Leica Camera AG).
About the Motorworld Buchpreis:
The Motorworld Buchpreis honours outstanding new publications in international automotive literature. The focus is on books that document automotive culture, innovation, technology, motor racing, design, biographies and history in a unique way and bring these subjects to life in a compelling manner. Year after year, the award brings together authors, publishers, journalists and motoring enthusiasts from Germany and abroad, fostering dialogue about the fascinating stories behind the vehicles, brands and personalities of the motoring world. The Motorworld Buchpreis was established by the internationally renowned motoring journalist, automotive historian and author Jürgen Lewandowski. The Motorworld Group has been involved as the organiser for over ten years.
Partners of the Motorworld Buchpreis 2026:
This year’s award was sponsored by the AvD – Automobilclub von Deutschland, HYMER GmbH & Co. KG and the online printing company WIRmachenDRUCK.
About the Motorworld-Group:
The Motorworld Group is an independent group of companies that emerged from the Dünkel Holding group, based in Schemmerhofen (Baden-Württemberg, Germany). The origins of this family-run business date back to 1930. The Motorworld Group develops, builds and operates themed attractions dedicated to a passion for motoring. Taken as a whole, it is regarded as the world’s largest, multi-award-winning, brand-independent sports car and classic car centre, bringing together the ‘who’s who’ of the entire motoring industry with over 40 of the world’s most valuable and exclusive vehicle brands. The first venue is Motorworld Region Stuttgart in Böblingen, which opened in 2009 and has been expanded several times since then. Further projects and activities under the MOTORWORLD® brand have been launched in recent years. Motorworld Köln, Rheinland, is based on the same concept. It is home to one of the most significant collections in motorsport: the private collection of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher. Another spectacular venue is the impressive and versatile Motorworld München. Motorworld Mallorca opened its doors in April 2025. Other venues currently in the planning and construction phases, or already partially operational, include Motorworld Berlin, Motorworld Zeche Ewald in the Ruhr region, and Motorworld Bulgaria in Sofia. The venues in Rüsselsheim and Zurich follow the Motorworld Manufakturen concept. Motorworld Village Metzingen focuses on events.
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