The competition will run for eight months across Classic Car Weekly, Practical Classics, and Classic Cars, both in the magazines, which have a claimed combined readership of over 600,000 and online.
Entries will be divided in to six distinct categories, and the audience of classic car enthusiasts will be able to upload details of their car via a dedicated micro-site that will be hosted by Classic Car Weekly, Classic Cars and Practical Classics. Classic Car Weekly will cover the competition through its news pages and the monthlies will lend their weight with in-depth features.
The entries will be whittled down to a final shortlist by an experienced judging panel, with readers voting for the category winners, who will also be showcased live at the NEC Classic Car Show, which takes place in November.
The competition will also be marketed to the UK’s classic car clubs, and promoted at key classic car events throughout the year.
Stuart Adam, Commercial Director, Motoring, Bauer Media, comments: “We have been keen to launch this type of large-scale consumer event for some time, and it is only right that Classic Car Weekly, Classic Cars and Practical Classics are home to Classic Car of the Year. This exciting competition will give our loyal audience the opportunity to share their classic car with thousands of like-minded enthusiasts and help us choose the ultimate winner. We are extremely grateful to our inaugural sponsor Lancaster Insurance for supporting the competition and making it possible.”
Lisa Joy, Director, Lancaster Insurance Services, said: “We are pleased to be supporting Classic Car of the Year 2010 and I personally look forward to joining the judging panel. These awards provide an invaluable way for us to understand classic car owners’ views and preferences and will help us as a business to recognise the trends that are currently out there. It is important that we find ways to keep the classic and enthusiasts car industry alive and we believe these awards will help do just that. We look forward to working closely with Bauer Media during the awards and over the coming year.”
