The legendary automaker Henry Ford once said: “Auto racing began five minutes after the second car was built.” Ford had an excellent point. The human need for speed has been powering motor races since the dawn of the automobile. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the sweet smell of fuel and asphalt can be exhilarating to experience. Nothing beats the visceral adrenaline rush of being at a race track on race day. Just ask any motor racing fan about that.
It’s no surprise that something as downright sexy and exciting as motor racing has long been a magnet for watchmakers. Couple that with the precision and striving for innovation that is central to both racing cars and watchmaking, and you have a match made in heaven. And so we will dedicate this article to all things racing, with a focus on two of our own racing-inspired watches, as well as three racing watches we also love. Start your engines, folks!