75 years of motorsport game-changers

We celebrate 75 years of Autosport in a special 196-page Summer edition of the magazine, out today (24 July).

As well as all the usual sections, from Formula 1 to the vibrant UK scene, we’ve added an extra element this month to look back at some of the designers, drivers, constructors and categories that have helped shape motorsport since Autosport first appeared as a weekly magazine on Friday 25 August 1950.

Just like Autosport, the sport we love has changed a great deal in those 75 years, but the excitement and passion remain. There’s a common thread that links all the game-changers in this issue, from legendary Lotus founder Colin Chapman to British Touring Car supremo Alan Gow via Porsche and Dallara, and that’s the enthusiasm to improve and push the boundaries to achieve better things than what has gone before.

Not every development has been successful and there have been plenty of cul-de-sacs, even from the innovative genius of Chapman, but there’s no denying that motorsport has continuously pushed forward, creating some incredible stories along the way. Choosing just a handful of the plethora of possible subjects for the issue was tough, but hopefully we have brought a flavour of some of the big personalities from motorsport’s many disciplines across the decades.

As well as the looking back, there’s also plenty of the here and now. Stuart Codling assesses the current state of play at Mercedes as Max Verstappen’s future remains sharply in focus since the sacking of Christian Horner at Red Bull, while F1’s ‘newest’ podium finisher Nico Hulkenberg talks to Mark Mann-Bryans. Jake Boxall-Legge is your guide in our special report from the British Grand Prix.

Like Hulkenberg’s Silverstone performance, Robert Kubica’s Le Mans 24 Hours victory with Ferrari is one of the feel-good stories of 2025 so far, and he opens up to Gary Watkins about his love affair with the race and what could come next.

Four-time World Rally champion Juha Kankkunen is another star who just can’t stay away and he tells Tom Howard how he’s getting on in his new job at Toyota.

Remarkable racer Tom Skelton has been going even longer than Autosport and he appears in our National section, which also includes our very own Marcus Pye picking out some of his highlights from almost half a century on the beat.

Thank you to all the readers, staff and key figures who have helped Autosport reach this impressive landmark. We hope you enjoy this bumper issue.

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