Introducing The MOTOR Awards 2021

They’re back. MOTOR’s annual awards give us a chance to recognise the vehicles, the technology, the events and the people that really stood out during the past year. No, this isn’t the Performance Car of the Year awards. Instead it’s something a little more modest in its aspiration, offering a tip of the hat to excellence recognised by the MOTOR team in the last twelve months. And what a twelve months it‘s been.

Aside from the obvious global pandemic which has shredded vehicle launch schedules, there have also been the catastrophic semiconductor supply chain issues that have further sprung a spanner into the works. By most measures 2021 ought to have been a disaster, but a combination of ingenuity and dogged determination has seen a number of bright spots.

Unable to get to any of the overseas launches, we deported Dan Gardner back to Europe to report for us and we’ve struck a deal with Georg Kacher, possibly the world’s best-connected motoring writer – to bring you all the performance cars that matter. Kacher’s just sent us his list of 2022 launch invites and, boy, have we got a treat in store for you.

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As the year draws to a close, the taps are just starting to open on a whole backlog of postponed new vehicle launches, so we reckon 2022 is going to be one for the ages. Therefore we kick off these awards with something of the delayed gratification – the cars we’re just itching to drive next year. We’d also like you to get involved. Let us know whether you agree or if you think there’s something that we’ve missed.

Our year kicked off with Performance Car of the Year, with Mercedes-AMG taking out its first victory with the astonishing GT R Pro coupe. Since then there’s been a bunch of new cars that will be lining up at PCOTY 2022, which is in the final planning phase.

Over the next week we will be revealing the winners of Best Design, Sweetest Sound, Most Exciting New Car, Most Dynamic Manufacturer, Biggest Personality, Biggest Innovation, Biggest Controversy, Best Race Car, and Gutsiest Racing Move. Make sure to check in regularly to keep up to date!

In the meantime, a little retrospective on an occasionally bewildering but never boring year. Thanks for sharing the ride with us.

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