For the 34th consecutive year, Chopard is proud to once again participate in the celebrated 1000 Miglia car rally. As the historic event’s main partner and official timekeeper. The 2021 1000 Miglia, run from June 16th to 19th, will see the usual direction of the course reversed. Meaning the 375 entries will travel the 1,618 km route (1,005 Roman miles) in a counter-clockwise direction. This has never happened since the competition was revived in 1977. But was a regular occurrence during the early editions of the original race between 1927 and 1957.
Gentleman drivers, camaraderie and friendship
For the 34th time, Chopard Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele will demonstrate his passion for driving classic cars. By taking his place on the start ramp, this year behind the wheel of the distinctive, strawberry-red Mercedes-Benz 300SL ‘Gullwing’. That has been part of the Scheufele family collection for more than 40 years.
Beside him will be motorsport legend, six times Le Mans winner. And long term friend of the Maison Jacky Ickx. With whom Mr Scheufele has driven the 1000 Miglia on more than 15 occasions.
Mr Scheufele first competed in the 1000 Miglia in 1989 – in the very same Gullwing. And also with MrIckx as his co-pilot.
It was that first outing together that formed the basis for the friendship between these like-minded ’gentleman drivers. That epitomises the spirit and camaraderie for which the 1000 Miglia has always been renowned.
This year, the duo will lead a team of five Chopard cars, including an Ermini Sport 1100 and a Fiat 1100 Zagato Coupe (both dating from 1954). Which will be driven by a variety of guest crews including French endurance racing champion Romain Dumas.
A Long & Winding Road
In keeping with tradition, the rally begins at 1.30pm. With the oldest car leaving the start ramp in Brescia’s tree-lined Viale Venezia first. And the others following at one-minute intervals in order of age.
Day One will see the cars take on the challenging Cita Pass. On the way to a finishing point in the coastal city of Viareggio, with an early start on Day Two to cover the 350km route to Rome. Via numerous historic hill towns and tiny villages.
The third day promises to be the most challenging and exciting of all – a 400-km run through the ‘boot’ of Italy. Punctuated by a stop in the dramatic city of Orvieto before the drivers press-on through the Chianti wine-growing region. And on to the twisty and demanding roads of the Futa and Raticosa passes.
After an overnight stop in Bologna, the fourth and final day will take the crews back to the finish in Brescia via Modena – home to the great Italian car brands Ferrari and Maserati – and the operatic centres of Mantova and Verona.
The Chopard Mille Miglia 2021 Race Edition watches
Just as it has done since 1988, Chopard is unveiling a number of all-new watches to commemorate the event in the form of the Mille Miglia 2021 Race Editions.
Before the start of the race, each crew is presented with a unique. Numbered edition of the watch which this year takes the form of a 44-mm chronograph which will be available to buy in two versions. A 1,000-piece, all-steel model or in 250 examples with bezels, pushpieces and hands made from ethical 18-carat rose gold.
Both have slate grey, satin-brushed galvanic dials complemented by sharply contrasting chapter rings. And chronograph subdials while red-tipped markers make for optimum legibility. The three-counter set-up enables individual recording of 12-hour, 30 minute and 60-second elapsed times. While speed and distance calculations can quickly be made using the dashboard-inspired. White-lacquered markings on the black ceramic insert of the tachymetre bezel.
As with all of Chopard’s Mille Miglia watches. The 2021 Race Edition’s motoring pedigree is confirmed by the presence of the famous 1000 Miglia red arrow on the dial. While the case back proudly bears a chequered flag design, the ‘1000 Miglia’ logo. And the inscription ‘Brescia-Rome-Brescia’ as a reminder of the event’s celebrated, circular route.
A brief history of the 1000 Miglia
Founded in 1927, the 1000 Miglia is among the most famous historic motoring events in the world. When it was originally run, the 1,618km course (the equivalent to 1,005 Roman miles) was an all-out race that started and finished in Brescia, with Rome marking the turning point for home.
In 1955, the famous British racing driver Sir Stirling Moss and his navigator, motorsport journalist Denis Jenkinson, won the race in a record time that still stands today, completing the course in ten hours, seven minutes and 48 seconds at the remarkable average speed of 97.96 mph.
After ceasing to exist in its original race format in 1957, the 1000 Miglia was revived in 1977 as a time and reliability trial for cars built between 1927 and 1957. It still covers 1,000 miles following much of the original route through the heart of Italy from Brescia to Rome and back.
The event sees some of the finest, rarest, most important. And most valuable cars of the original era take to the roads in the manner for which they were intended. Creating an intoxicating assault on the senses of sight, sound and smell. And turning back the clock as they pass through the same towns and villages where crowds lined the roads during the 1000 Miglia’s early decades.
Chopard
Founded in 1860, Chopard, The Artisan of Emotions, perpetuates the heritage of traditional know-how. And ancestral crafts through contemporary and ethical creations.Cultivating limitless creativity. Which enables everyone to find precious objects within Chopard collections that are in tune with their own nature. The Maison takes craftsmanship to peak levels through the work of passionate and experienced artisans. Moreover, since July 2018, the Maison has been the first watch. And jewellery maker to use 100% Ethical Gold for the production of all its watches and jewellery.
Today, Chopard is run by the Scheufele family and masters more than 50 professions at its three production sites. Where particular attention is paid to internal training and the transmission of know-how.
The Maison lives in step with its prestigious partnerships: a loyal official partner to the Cannes Film Festival since 1998, it has also been the official timekeeper of the legendary Italian 1000 Miglia classic car race since 1988.
