HISTORY S
ince motor racing started in France in the 1890s and the first named Grand Prix was held in Pau back in 1906,
motor racing has been glamorous. But although it is stacked full of money and celebrity, it is still the cars and the engineering that remain the focus.
It makes sense, then, that with its
own attention firmly fixed on fine watchmaking, Christopher Ward has a Grand Prix collection that highlights some of the world’s most famous – and notorious – Grand Prix locations and drivers. From the very first development of motor vehicles, the French were enthusiastic car manufacturers and drivers. It was France that instigated what started as a loose network of international car racing events – not yet an actual championship. And it was France that drove the gradual development of a set of rules for the sport, through the French Automobile Association. These included the shift from roads to circuits – sometimes on closed public roads – fixed distances, the starting grid with each nation colour coded, and regulations on car weight, engine size and tyre types.
Henry Segrave (left) established the first British Grand Prix at Brooklands in 1926
It was in England, however, that the first ever oval race track was built, at Brooklands in Surrey, in 1907. Other early tracks included those in Indianapolis in the US and Monza in Italy.
The first race called a Grand Prix outside of France was held in Indianapolis in 1908, but it was a trend taken up by other countries including Italy in 1921, Belgium and Spain in 1924 and in the UK in 1926. By 1934 there were 18 international races that had Grand Prix status.
It was not until after World War II
Although it dates back to the 1890s, nothing could be more modern than racing fast cars. Celebrity drivers, glamorous followers, feats of engineering and magnums of style. No wonder Christopher Ward has a
Grand Prix Collection
that the World Championship was formalised by the newly created Federation Internationale de l’Automobile – the FIA – and from 1950 the term Formula One was coined to describe the races that made up the championship for drivers. A points system was created and a total of seven races were granted championship status including the Indianapolis 500. The first World Championship race was held at Silverstone in England.
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www.christopherward.co.uk
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