Nothing quite gets the blood up for Chopard co-president Karl-Friedrich Scheufele as the Mille Miglia vintage car race around the most picturesque towns, cities and countryside of northern Italy.
Chopard has been official timekeeper and world sponsor of the classic rally — unofficially known as the most beautiful race in the world — for 36 outings in succession.
Mr Scheufele has taken part in the race since 1989, and this year once again teamed up with six-times Le Mans 24 Hours winner Jacky Ickx as his navigator.
The pair have entered the race together on more than a dozen occasions, and took to the road on the circuit from Brescia to Rome and back in the same metallic raspberry Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing in which they made their Mille Miglia debut.
Victory is nowhere near as important as taking part in the Mille Miglia, but for the record this year’s race was won by reigning champions Andrea Vesco and Fabio Salvinelli.
Chopard uses the occasion to mix with the wealthy vintage car and historic racing enthusiasts, many of whom have a crossover passion for horology, and to introduce a new capsule collection of timekeepers.
This year there are four Mille Miglia Classic Chronographs, plus an additional Italian Limited Edition of the Mille Miglia GTS Chronograph.
A portion of the sales from the watches are being donated to victims of the recent Emilia-Romagna flood disaster.
Chopard and Bamford Watch Department
Chopard also used the race to unveil a special edition Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Desert Racer created with Bamford Watch Department.
There are 50 being made in bead-blasted titanium, each housing a Chopard 01.08-C movement.
