The UK’s Favorite Roads

As millions prepare for Christmas road trips across the UK, a recent survey of over 3,000 Volkswagen owners has revealed the nation’s favourite motorways. Topping the list is the M6 in Cumbria, loved for its stunning Lake District scenery and the convenience of Tebay services.

Close behind are the M4 and M40, with the M40 highlighted for its fast and picturesque route through the Chilterns and Cherwell Valley.

Top 5 UK Motorways:

1. M6
2. M4
3. M40
4. M5
5. M1

Other well-loved routes included the M62, which features the iconic Stott Hall Farm and reaches England’s highest motorway point at 1,221 feet above sea level. Scotland’s M74, M8, and M9 also ranked highly, with the M5 earning praise for Gloucester’s popular farm shop services.

Electric Cars Fit for Long Holiday Journeys

Volkswagen’s range of electric vehicles (EVs) proves ideal for extended holiday drives. Most of the brand’s ID. cars have a range sufficient to cover 500 miles with just one charging stop, according to WLTP calculations.

The survey, conducted in November, involved 3,132 Volkswagen owners, 58% of whom drive EVs.

2024 Trends: SUVs Dominate, Electric Cars Gain Momentum

Auto Trader has released information relating to automotive trends that have emerged throughout 2024. As Auto Trader averages over 82 million visits and 203 million advert views per month, the team had a huge amount of data at their disposal to spot patterns in consumer behaviour.

SUVs Overtake Hatchbacks

SUVs were the most popular body type, with 708 million views on the platform. Last year’s most popular, the hatchback, couldn’t retain its title as SUVs powered past. On the other end of the scale, hearses were the least viewed category, with just 1,091 views.

Electric Vehicles Surge in Popularity

The electric vehicle (EV) market continued to grow, with the Hyundai IONIQ 5 being the most viewed new electric car, generating 536,000 views. Following closely behind were the Kia EV9 and Porsche Taycan, with over 500,000 and 462,000 views respectively. Meanwhile, the Tesla Model 3 was the fastest-selling used EV, typically selling within just 19 days.

“Peak Petrol” Declared

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class was crowned the fastest-selling petrol model, selling in an average of 17 days. However, as drivers transition to electric vehicles, the UK has reached “peak petrol,” with 18.7 million petrol cars still in circulation. However, this is now expected to decline.

Black Leads Colour Preferences

Black cars remained the most sought-after colour for the fourth consecutive year, with over 600 million views. Grey and white followed, attracting 467 million and 362 million views, respectively. Notably, green-coloured cars saw a 24% spike in interest in June 2024, influenced by the popularity of Charli XCX’s “Brat” album, which brought the vibrant “brat green” into the spotlight.

Top Cars and Quirky Listings

The Volkswagen Golf was the most popular used car with 64 million views, while the Land Rover Range Rover led in the new car category with nearly 2.2 million views. Unique listings on the platform included a 1969 Volkswagen Beach Buggy from the TV show The Bugaloos, priced at just under £20,000.

Fiestas and Defenders in the Limelight

Despite production ending, the Ford Fiesta remained the most advertised car, with 106,000 listings. Interest in the Land Rover Defender increased by 39%, partly due to its appearance in the BBC series The Traitors.

BYD Rides the Euro 2024 Wave

Chinese EV manufacturer BYD saw a massive 69% weekly increase in advert views during the Euro 2024 tournament, thanks to its partnership and advertising presence during the matches.

Record-breaking Prices and Bargains

On the luxury end of things, a Pagani Huayra was listed for £3 million, making it the most expensive car on Auto Trader in 2024. A 2009/2010 Vauxhall Astra was the cheapest, listed for just £75. Other models also saw pricing shifts, with the Peugeot 308 Sport rising by 73%, while the Honda Civic Executive saw a 53% price drop.

Celebrity Spotlight

The personal Honda NSX of the late F1 legend Ayrton Senna sold for £500,000, giving one lucky buyer a genuine piece of motorsport history.

It will be interesting to see what trends emerge as we head into 2025!

Eddie Stobart, Founder of Iconic Lorry Firm, Dies Aged 95

Eddie Stobart, the man behind one of Britain’s most recognisable and well-known haulage firms, has passed away at the age of 95.

Eddie first started the business in the 1950s, beginning with agricultural work in Cumbria. Over the years, what started as a small operation grew into a logistics giant under the leadership of his son, Edward. Today, the Eddie Stobart name is seen all over the country in the form of its green-and-white lorries.

The Eddie Stobart brand gained a strong following from its customers, passers-by and members of the public. A big part of this was because each lorry was given its own name – chosen by the driver.

Eddie actually retired from the business a while ago, but his influence was always felt throughout the company. His son, Edward, took over from his dad and was able to turn the Eddie Stobart name into something of an empire that continues to be hugely successful. So successful in fact that there have been documentaries made about the company, as well as toys, models, and a whole range of merchandise.

Tributes to Eddie have been shared on social media from people who have felt inspired by the legend that was Eddie Stobart.

Eddie Stobart 1929 – 2024

Guild of Motoring Writers

I feel very proud to say that I have become an Associate Member of the Guild of Motoring Writers!

The Guild is the UK’s largest organisation for automotive media professionals, and being part of it feels like a huge step forward on my professional journey.

For those who don’t know, the Guild is an incredible community of journalists, photographers, authors, broadcasters, and creatives, all connected by their love for cars and storytelling. To now have a place among them is both an honour and a chance to dive even deeper into an industry I’ve come to love.

Joining the Guild feels like a natural fit for me. I didn’t come into the automotive space through the usual route, but over time, I’ve developed a real passion for sharing the stories behind cars – from classic restorations to the future of synthetic fuels. Whatever I’m writing about, I can’t wait to keep contributing and learning alongside some of the best in the business.

A big thank you to the Guild of Motoring Writers for welcoming me and also a huge thank you to Craig for his continued support. I’m looking forward to connecting with fellow members and hopefully adding my voice to this amazing community.

Half Of UK Drivers Can’t Identify Dashboard Warning Lights

In a recent study by Warrantywise, conducted in collaboration with OnePoll, it was found that nearly half (46%) of UK drivers cannot identify most of their vehicle’s dashboard warning lights. This could mean that around 23 million drivers don’t know what their car is telling them resulting in poor vehicle maintenance and safety.

Don’t Ignore The Lights

Modern cars are equipped with increasingly advanced dashboard systems designed to inform drivers about their vehicle’s health. These range from straightforward indicators like low washer fluid levels to critical warnings about brake system malfunctions or engine issues. However, the survey found that 3% of drivers – potentially 1.5 million people – cannot identify any warning lights at all.

This lack of understanding not only increases the likelihood of expensive repairs but also poses potential safety risks. Ignoring the dashboard lights can lead to delayed repairs, worsening damage, and heightened costs. In some cases, these oversights could endanger both drivers and passengers.

Growing Complexity in Dashboard Technology

As cars are becoming more technologically advanced, the variety and complexity of warning lights have expanded, making it even more important for drivers to understand their meaning. Acting quickly when a warning light appears can help prevent costly breakdowns and safeguard warranty coverage.

For more information, visit www.warrantywise.co.uk.

The data cited in this article was compiled from research conducted by OnePoll in 2024. The survey was based on responses from a representative sample of 2,000 UK: Car owners.

 Source of data:
¹ The Plan for Drivers

Bernie Ecclestone’s Collection For Sale

Tom Hartley Jnr has been given the job of selling Bernie Ecclestone’s collection of Grand Prix and Formula 1 cars.

At 94 years old, Ecclestone, the former commercial rights holder of Formula 1, is the man widely credited with transforming the sport into the global phenomenon it is today. His personal collection of 69 historic Grand Prix and Formula 1 cars covers a huge part of the history of motorsport.

The collection has been hidden from public view for decades, some of the cars for more than 50 years. Many of the cars haven’t been seen since Ecclestone acquired them. Among the highlights are Ferraris driven by World Champions like Mike Hawthorn, Niki Lauda, and Michael Schumacher, alongside Brabhams piloted by legends such as Nelson Piquet, Carlos Pace, and Lauda again. There is also a one-of-a-kind Brabham-Alfa Romeo BT46B ‘fan car,’ which made history with its sole race – a victory at the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix at Anderstorp.

Bernie Ecclestone said:
“I have been collecting these cars for more than 50 years, and I have only ever bought the best of any example. Whilst many other collectors over the years have opted for sports cars, my passion has always been for Grand Prix and Formula 1 cars.

“A Grand Prix and in particular a Formula 1 car is far more important than any road car or other form of race car, as it is the pinnacle of the sport, and all the cars I have bought over the years have fantastic race histories and are rare works of art.

“I love all of my cars but the time has come for me to start thinking about what will happen to them should I no longer be here, and that is why I have decided to sell them. After collecting and owning them for so long, I would like to know where they have gone and not leave them for my wife to deal with should I not be around.

“Tom [Hartley Jnr] is handling the sale for me because he knows the cars better than anyone else, his business is best placed to sell them, and I am guaranteed transparency which is important to me.

“Having collected what are the best and most original Formula 1 cars dating back to the start of the sport, I have now decided to move them on to new homes that will treat them as I have and look after them as precious works of art.”

Tom Hartley Jnr said:
“This is quite simply the most important race car collection in the world. There has never been and probably never will be a collection like it ever offered for sale again. The collection spans 70 years of Grand Prix and Formula 1 racing, and highlights include Mike Hawthorn, Niki Lauda, and Michael Schumacher World Championship-winning Ferraris, all of Bernie’s [Ecclestone] Brabhams including the famous ‘fan car’, and the Vanwall VW10, the car in which the great Stirling Moss won several Formula 1 Grands Prix on the way to Vanwall clinching the first ever Formula 1 Constructors’ World Championship in 1958, plus so much more.

“But, for me, the highlight of the collection has to be the Ferraris. Bernie has assembled a collection of Ferrari Formula 1 cars that today would be near-impossible to repeat. There is the famous Thin Wall Special, which was the first Ferrari to ever beat Alfa Romeo, the Alberto Ascari Italian Grand Prix-winning 375 F1, the Mike Hawthorn World Championship-winning Dino which Ferrari campaigned over three seasons before it was donated to the Henry Ford Museum, plus historically significant World Championship-winning Niki Lauda and Michael Schumacher cars.

“Because Bernie has retained ownership of the Brabhams since they were new, and many of those cars have not been seen for decades, people can forget quite how special a team Brabham was. Brabham scored 22 Formula 1 Grand Prix wins, 24 Formula 1 Grand Prix pole positions, 25 Formula 1 Grand Prix fastest laps, and two Formula 1 World Championships under Bernie’s tenure. The team was also very innovative, fitting carbon brakes to its cars in the 1970s, and was the first to introduce in-race refuelling. Bernie was also the person who gave a young South African engineer named Gordon Murray a job – and other big names in motorsport such as Charlie Whiting and Herbie Blash were part of the Brabham boys.

“I feel very privileged that Bernie has entrusted the sale of his cars to my Tom Hartley Jnr business. Formula 1 cars are cars that I know particularly well, they are not just cars that I have a great personal interest in, but we at Tom Hartley Jnr actively buy and sell them, too. However, there has never been a collection like this one offered for sale, and no one in the world has a race car collection that comes close to Bernie’s. This a great opportunity for a discerning collector to acquire cars that have never before been offered for sale, and it would be great to see them back on the track again.

“All of the cars on the Formula 1 grid today look the same. If you stripped them of their liveries, you’d struggle to know which one was a Williams and which was a Ferrari. But when you look at some of the Grand Prix cars from the early 1960s to the late 1970s, they’d very much be at home in The Museum of Modern Art.”

“This collection is the history of Formula 1.”

Prince Albert Of Monaco Drives A Hydrogen Car

Prince Albert II of Monaco has recently been test-driving the Pioneer 25, a hydrogen-powered racing car developed by Extreme H. These tests took place ahead of the Monaco Hydrogen Alliance’s annual forum, where the Prince drove the car from the Palace of Monaco through the principality’s streets, as you would have seen in Formula 1 races.

The Pioneer 25 has a 75 kW hydrogen fuel cell, enabling it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. That is a great example of the potential of hydrogen technology in achieving high-speed, zero-emission mobility.

Extreme H plans to launch the first hydrogen-powered off-road racing series in 2025, and adds to the growing trend towards sustainable motorsport.

All Races At Goodwood Revival 2025 To Be Run On Sustainable Fuel

It doesn’t seem that long ago that we were talking about this year’s Goodwood Revival, but the early bird tickets for 2025 are already available!

The 2025 event will follow the same format as the 2024 Revival with all 15 of the races only involving cars powered by sustainable fuel! 

All competitors must use fuel composed of at least 70% advanced sustainable components, a standard introduced during the 82nd Members’ Meeting.

Looking ahead to September 2025, Goodwood Revival will feature 15 races across the weekend of Friday 12th – Sunday 14th. These are:

Freddie March Memorial Trophy
A tribute to the Goodwood Nine Hour races of the 1950s, the Freddie March Memorial Trophy has featured on every Revival race list since 1998. The 60-minute two-driver race will include cars such as Jaguar C-Types, Aston Martin DB3S’ and Allard J2Xs.

Sussex Trophy
The Sussex Trophy has been on the schedule for all-but-one of the Revival. This is a race for the World Championship sportscars and production sports-racing cars that raced from 1955-1960 like Lotus 15s, Lister-Jaguar Knobblys and Jaguar D-Types in action.

Madgwick Cup
The Madgwick Cup has taken on several different forms at the Revival. This year, the 25-minute race will feature sports racing cars under 3-litres that raced between 1960 and 1966. With smaller engines than many of the other cars competing over the weekend, the race will feature the likes of Lotus 23Bs, Elva MK7s and Brabham BT5s.

Goodwood Trophy
Recalling the earliest days of the Goodwood Motor Circuit, the Goodwood Trophy typifies post-war motorsport. With a grid of Grand Prix and Voiturette cars that raced between 1930 and 1951, a variety of cars across two decades will take to the historic Circuit with previous grids including ERAs, Maserati 6CMs and the BRM Type 15 V16.

Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy
The Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy pays homage to the original two-wheeled duel at the Goodwood Motor Circuit in 1951. For 500cc Grand Prix motorcycles that raced between 1948 and 1966 including Norton Manx 30Ms and Matchless G50s, each bike will be ridden by a pair of riders and compete in two races across the weekend for a cumulative result.

Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy
Previously known as the Kinrara Trophy before being re-named in 2020, the Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy returns to the Revival race list for 2025. Named in honour of the late Sir Stirling Moss – or “Mr Goodwood” – closed-cockpit GT cars that raced before 1963 will take to the track for a 45-minute two-driver race. The race is known for welcoming some of the most valuable and beautiful cars in the world including Jaguar E-Types, Aston Martin DB4GTs and Ferrari 250SWBs.

Whitsun Trophy
The fastest race of the weekend, the Whitsun Trophy has been part of the Revival since 2001. The Whitsun Trophy spotlights sports-racing prototypes that raced between 1960 and 1966 including Lola T70 Spyders, McLaren M1Bs and Ford GT40s, making for some incredible racing across the weekend.

Fordwater Trophy
In 2023, the Fordwater Trophy became the very first all-sustainable fuel race to take place at Goodwood. In 2025, the Fordwater Trophy will see race-inspired production sports and GT cars from 1964-1966 race on the track, including Lotus 26Rs, Ford Mustang GT350s and Alfa Romeo TZ1s.

St Mary’s Trophy
Alternating between the celebrated decade each year, the 2025 St Mary’s Trophy will welcome a collection of 1950s production-based saloon cars. A two-part race across the weekend, it will feature Austin A40s, Alfa Romeo Giulietta Tis and Jaguar Mk1s and a VIP line-up of drivers on the Saturday.

Chichester Cup
The Chichester Cup brings together a grid of small but nimble front-engined Formula Juniors like Lola Mk2s, Alexis Mk2s and Elva-BMC-100s. The 25-minute time trial brings together the cars once driven by the future F1 stars of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

Richmond & Gordon Trophies
Celebrating a golden era of Formula 1, the Richmond & Gordon Trophies welcome a fleet of 2.5-litre Grand Prix cars from 1952-1960. What happens in this one is you get massively competitive racing between front and rear-engined cars including Lotus 16s, Maserati 250Fs and Cooper T5s.

Royal Automobile Club TT Celebration
The Revival meeting’s blue riband race features closed-cockpit GT and selected prototype cars and is a clear nod to the history and heritage of the Motor Circuit when the RAC TT was held there from 1960 to 1964. The fastest and most iconic grand touring cars from Goodwood’s golden era go head-to-head in the 60-minute two-driver race.

Glover Trophy
Retaining its name from the early race meetings at Goodwood, the Glover Trophy brings together Grand Prix cars from 1961-1965 – as an insight into the history of Formula 1 racing at the Motor Circuit – raced at Goodwood by the likes of Sir Jackie Stewart, Jim Clark and Graham Hill. Named in honour of the trophy, which was awarded at Goodwood’s Easter Meetings, the race will feature cars such as Lotus 25s, BRM P261s and Lotus 18s.