How to become a motoring journalist - and win £2000

If you read CAR Magazine and CAR Online, are aged between 17-23, are based in the UK with a UK passport and fancy becoming a motoring journalist yourself, get ready to enter the industry's biggest award for budding young car writers.

The UK's Guild of Motoring Writers and Jaguar have launched the 2011 Sir William Lyons Award to find the best talent of tomorrow. There's a £2000 prize - and the chance to get on the radar of the biggest car magazines and their editors.

The Lyons Award has been running annually since 1966, and is named after the founder of sponsor Jaguar Cars.

Winners have included our very own associate editor Tim Pollard, as well as Angus Frazer, David Vivian, Tim Watson and Piers Ward, who all went on to prominent jobs on the big six UK car mags.

Entrants must be aged between 17 and 23 on the closing date of 1 October 2011. You'll be asked to write two articles totalling 1500 words on a range of motoring issues. Download the application form at the Guild of Motoring Writers website at www.gomw.co.uk or email Guild secretary Pat Lodge at generalsec@gomw.co.uk

Guild chairman Charlotte Blight said: 'Winning this award can give you the edge in a highly competitive industry. It’s an outstanding way to showcase your talents.'

By Ben Pulman