The founder of Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year (WWCOTY), Sandy Myhre, has released a new book exploring her decades-long career in motoring journalism while examining the changing role of women in the automotive and motorsport industries.
Published by UK-based Austin Macauley, One Lady Owner – Memoirs of a Motoring Madam blends autobiography with a broader look at the automotive world, covering everything from buying and selling cars to motorsport, vehicle design, alternative fuels and the future of mobility.
Rather than simply recounting her career, Myhre uses the book to challenge long-held assumptions within the industry. Among the topics explored are why many women still feel compelled to take a man with them when purchasing a vehicle and why female participation in motorsport continues to lag despite growing opportunities.
Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year executive president, Marta García, described the publication as an important contribution to the automotive sector.
“One Lady Owner, Memoirs of a Motoring Madam is a remarkable work that combines passion, expertise and an authentic perspective on the automotive world,” García said.
“The book offers a courageous and much-needed insight into the evolving role of women in an industry traditionally dominated by men, serving as an inspiration for both car enthusiasts and future generations of women in the sector.”
Myhre said the project had evolved into something much broader than originally intended.
“The book has developed into a story of emancipation for women and cars and women in motor sport and although it didn’t start out like that it evolved that way,” she said.
The book also examines automotive advertising, highlights the achievements of pioneering women across the industry since the late nineteenth century, profiles female mechanics and designers, and discusses electric vehicles, sustainable materials and alternative fuels. It also offers practical advice on buying and selling cars.
Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year, established by Myhre in 2009, remains the world’s only automotive awards programme judged exclusively by women motoring journalists. Beyond recognising the year’s best vehicles, the organisation aims to increase the visibility and influence of women across the global automotive industry.
The book can be ordered here