Grand Prix

Winning Ferrari F1 Car Listed for Sale at $3 Million

The amazing 2006 Ferrari 248 F1 racer (above) that was Philip Massa's No. 1 car for the 2006 Grand Prix season has been listed for sale via global online luxury marketplace JamesList for about $3 million. The car, designed by Rory Byrne and Aldo Costa featuring a 785 hp V8 engine, won seven of the last nine races of the '06 season; overall, the 248 gave Ferrari nine race wins and four pole positions, and second place finishes in both the Drivers' and Constructors' World Championships. It's just one of the rare Ferrari F1 cars listed on the site by the UK's Red Dog; also up for grabs is a 1974 Ferrari 312 B3 F1 car for $2.2 million; a 1984 Ferrari 126 C4 F1 car for $940,000; and a 1994 Ferrari 412 T1 for $810,000, all with various victories under their bonnets. Gentlemen, start your engines.

Tags: F1, Ferrari, Formula 1, Formula One, grand prix, JamesList, motor racing, race car, racecar, racing

Formula One Drivers and Staff Ambushed by Gunmen in Brazil

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports, Crimes and Misdemeanors

Formula One drivers are used to making quick getaways, but found themselves in harm's way last weekend in Brazil. While in Sao Paulo for the Brazilian Grand Prix, the car carrying the defending world champion Jenson Button was attacked by a gang of gunmen. The armored vehicle was driven by a police officer away from the scene of the ambush, delivering Button to safety. The famous McLaren driver praised his driver's abilities, which comes as quite the compliment coming from the world champion.

Button wasn't the only F1 figure attacked during the race weekend, however, as additional reports depicted an attack on a van full of the Sauber team's staff. In this case armed bandits stopped the van at gunpoint and made off with the staff members' bags. Fortunately no one was harmed in this incident either.

Despite the attacks, figures in F1 are not calling for removing the event from next year's calendar, crediting the government with doing all its best to improve socio-economic conditions in Brazil and reducing crime rates, while refusing to blame race organizers for what happens off the track.

Source

Tags: brazil, brazilian grand prix, f1, formula 1, formula one, grand prix, jenson button, sao paulo, sauber

Franck Muller Conquistador Grand Prix Tourneau Exclusive Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Watch retailer chain Tourneau has a lot of pull with major want brands, and consequently gets lots of "exclusive watches" that are available only at Tourneau shops. One such watch is this black and white, three-hand version of Franck Muller's new Conquistador Grand Prix timepiece. In addition to the special colors, this is the only version (that I know of), that is a simple three-hand timepiece. Other models available come with a tourbillon or a chronograph. I wrote more on this Conquistador Grand Prix watch collection here.

I got to see one of the watches at a Tourneau store, they had two of them, which is probably a lot. Especially given the fact that the collection is limited to just 50 pieces (and those need to be distributed among many Tourneau doors). The black case is in a special aluminum alloy (Ergal), and also has titanium in the mix. Inside is a Franck Muller automatic movement. These are very large watches as well, but the simple three-hand layout helps balance the design well, and emphasize the more rich characterful elements of the design. Other versions of the watch are red and black, or rose gold and black, so this black and white version is a great derivative. Look for this limited edition Franck Muller Conquistador Grand Prix watch in black at white only at Tourneau now. Price is $9,990.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: conquistador, franck muller, grand prix, limited edition, tourneau, watch, watches

Linde Werdelin 3-Timer Racing Singapore Edition Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

As a special piece for E'colleczione in Singapore, Linde Werdelin is making a limited edition of 18 pieces for the race loving crowd. There will be 9 pieces in red, and 9 in yellow of this 3-Timer watch variation. The caseback will also have a special "Racing" engraving. The release of the watch is meant to go together with the Grand Prix race in Singapore. I believe that this is the first time, or one of the first times that Linde Werdelin has made a limited edition watch for a racing event (or any event for that matter).

The standard 46mm wide steel 3-Timer watch has been enhanced with red or yellow in the bezel, and inside of the hex screws on the case and the strap. The perforated leather strap again has either yellow or red inside of the small holes. The dial is textured and black, and everything else you like about the 3-Timer GMT watch. Inside the watch is a Swiss 2893 automatic GMT movement. Go here for a full review of the Linde Werdelin 3-Timer watch. Price for this limited Racing edition of the 3-Timer watch will be about 5,280 euros for each of the 18 pieces, available exclusively in Singapore.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 3-timer, grand prix, Linde Werdelin, racing, singapore, watch

Steinmetz Encrusts McLaren Gear with Diamonds for Monaco Grand Prix

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Luxury Cars & Autos, Sports

In the fast-paced, weight-obsessed, space-age world of Formula One racing, there's not much room for ornamentation. Except maybe in Monaco, the most glamorous race on the calendar. That's where the F1 circus is heading this weekend, and it's also where Steinmetz Diamonds will be unveiling a unique tribute to the McLaren team and its world champion drivers.

Steimetz has taken the helmets and steering wheels of both Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, and embellished them with Forevermark diamonds. The pieces were unveiled at Villa la Vigie – once owned by Karl Lagerfeld and now the home of the Steinmetz Salon Privé – on Wednesday. Both world champions – Button 2009 and Lewis 2008 – will be sporting their diamond-encrusted helmets and steering wheels at this weekend's grand prix, where Hamilton, for one, hopes to recreate his 2008 Monaco GP win, where he also wore Steinmetz diamonds on his helmet.

Gallery: McLaren helmets and steering wheels by Steinmetz

Tags: diamonds, f1, formula 1, formula one, grand prix, jenson button, lewis hamilton, mclaren, monaco, monaco gp, monaco grand prix, monte carlo, steinmetz, villa la vigie

Chopard Grand Prix de Monaco Historique Time Attack MF Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Cost cutting is "in" for watch makers as profits are down, and making new and complex mechanical movements is a practice that is frowned upon. So watch makers get creative, and this is typically good news for consumers. Take for example this interesting new watch that I like from Chopard. Model is the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique Time Attack MF. The watch is the first digital LCD screen I have ever seen on a racing watch from the brand - it is also one of the few or only watches in this line to have a Swiss quartz movement. I like how they combine "historic" and LCD panels. Styling is simple yet very satisfying. The 42.5mm wide steel case has has a nicely rendered style and the dial is extremely easy to read and live with. The negative color LCD screen makes operating a series of functions such as a chronograph, alarms, second timezone, calendar, and countdown timer easy. The screen looks to be of a high quality so it won't look like you are wearing some odd Frankenstein replica watch. Actually the movement is likely to be a thermo-compensated quartz, because it is certified as a COSC Chronometer - which has special requirements for quartz watches in terms of accuracy and giving them such certification.

I love the retro styling of the watch as well. The portholes in the leather strap as well as the thinner lugs and tachymeter style on the bezel all have a 1970s feel to them. Some people are no doubt going to complain that you shouldn't have to pay Chopard prices for a quartz watch - but the brand is worth something, and their ability to design a nice watch is worth more. Plus, like I said above, the price of this watch is likely to be less than mechanical watches due to the type of movement. Overall I like that watch. It may not be the perfect Chopard racing watch for all people, but it will be the perfect one for enough people.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: Chopard, chronometer, grand prix, GrandPrix, historique, mf, monaco, quartz, time attack, TimeAttack, watch, watch of the day, WatchOfTheDay

Franck Muller Conquistador Singapore Grand Prix Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

I recently spoke about Arnold Schwarzenegger visiting a Franck Muller store. He might have gone in to check out a watch such as this. Right out of a financially troubled Franck Muller comes this beast of a luxury timepiece. I've never seen anything like it from the brand, and this Conquistador Singapore Grand Prix watch certainly is aimed at one of the few places right now where you can bet on luxury watch sales still taking place.

There are other versions of this new style Conquistador watch. The dramatic colors and design are what really get me. It is like Franck Muller is targeting Roger Dubuis in some odd manner it seems with these "talk to me designs." This particular watch looks like a perfect compliment to Batman's The Joker attire. Don't you think?

Case comes in two forms. Either titanium and ergal (a type of aluminum alloy - think the red color on the watch case) or titanium and 18k rose gold. Size is 48mm wide by 62mm tall, and 14mm thick. Front and rear crystal is sapphire, of course. Inside the "statement rich" timepiece is an automatic Franck Muller FM caliber 7000 chronograph movement. Notable is the high level of decoration and platinum automatic rotor in the movement. The watch is limited to 80 pieces in the titanium and ergal, and 80 pieces in the titanium and gold.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: conquistabor, franck muller, FranckMuller, grand prix, GrandPrix, limited edition, LimitedEdition, singapore, watch, watch of the day, WatchOfTheDay

Brawn GP Racing Chronographs by Graham-London

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos

The correlations between high-performance racing machines and high-precision timepieces hardly need any elaboration, and the examples are plenty. It seems every premium automaker and every top-tier racing team has its own line of watches, usually crafted by Switzerland's finest watchmakers. And now Brawn GP has joined the fold.

If you haven't heard of Brawn GP, it's been a while since you've watched a grand prix. The team – headed by strategic mastermind Ross Brawn – that took over when Honda packed up and left Formula One racing last year is leading the world championship with only two rounds to go. But they've run most of the season without the sort of multi-million-dollar sponsorship deals you'd expect of the rookie race winners. At the British Grand Prix at Silverstone this year, however, the team announced a new deal with Anglo-Swiss watchmakers Graham-London, which lays claim to the first chronograph in timekeeping history. Graham has debuted a small line of timepieces custom made for the team, including the Chronofighter and the Silverstone, featuring Brawn GP's signature colors and individually numbered. Only 250 will be made, so you'd better be faster than a Brawn racer to get your hands on one.

Gallery: Brawn GP series by Graham-London

Tags: brawn, brawn gp, BrawnGp, f1, formula 1, formula one, Formula1, FormulaOne, graham, graham london, graham-london, GrahamLondon, grand prix, GrandPrix

New JeanRichard Watch Honors Motorcycle Champ

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos

Swiss watchmaker JeanRichard is debuting a new line of timepieces honoring the great Italian motorcycle racing champion Giacomo Agostini, known as Ago. The new collection, For Ago, stems from JeanRichard's partnership with the famous Italian motorbike brand MV Agusta, for which Agostini rode. The multi-time world champion motorcycle racer is the all-time leader in victories in motorcycle Grand Prix history. The first piece in the collection is the Bressel 1665 Chronograph Rattrapante Foudroyante Ago (above). Produced in a limited edition of only 50 pieces, with a silver or black dial, its case is crafted in palladium, a precious metal that is part of the platinum family. The watch, presented on a vintage-look brown strap, is fitted with an automatic winding mechanical movement visible through a transparent case-back displaying Ago's signature. JeanRichard also produces a collection of MV Agusta-branded timepieces.

Tags: Giacomo Agostini, GiacomoAgostini, Grand Prix, GrandPrix, Italy, JeanRichard, Motorcycle, MV Augusta, MvAugusta, Racing