Sir Jackie Stewart, Formula 1 racing legend and Rolex Ambassador
Sir Jackie Stewart returned, June 3, 2016, to Monaco to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his first Grand Prix victory, and in this first set of images we see him sporting the brand new stainless steel Rolex Daytona with the dial black and matching Monobloc Cerachrom black ceramic bezel with engraved tachymeter scale.
Rolex said of Sir Jackie Stewart:
“ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS DRIVERS OF THE LAST 50 YEARS. Born in Scotland in 1939, Sir Jackie Stewart is unquestionably an iconic figure in contemporary motor racing. of the last 50 years. His commitment to driver safety has changed the face of motorsport. He has also earned one of the greatest reputations as a sportsman in the media world. Sir Jackie Stewart has participated in 99 Formula 1 Grands Prix, won 27, won three world championships (1969, 1971 and 1973) and stood on the podium 43 times.He has been a Rolex testimonial since 1968. In tribute to his exceptional career , he was designated in 2012 Grand Marshal of the 50th anniversary edition of the Rolex 24 At Daytona."
Sir Jackie Stewart is pictured above wearing his latest Rolex Daytona on his wrist, and we also see her pictured below on the roof of his original BRM P 261 racing car. The engraving on the back of this Rolex reads:
"1966-2016 50th Anniversary 1st F1 Monaco GP victory."
If you're not familiar with the newest stainless steel Rolex Daytona (pictured below), Rolex introduced it at BaselWorld 2016, to astonishing fanfare. In the past I posted a fascinating story about John Mayer and Benjamin Clymer from Hodinkee talking about this amazing new Rolex Cosmograph Daytona.
The photo below shows Sir Jackie Stewart sporting a Rolex Daytona given to him by Rolex in the 1960s in Monaco. Sir Jackie Stewart said:
"The Rolex Daytona that I wear was given to me in the late sixties in Monaco for winning one of the legendary races. I've kept it all these years and still wear it a lot. It's just a classic watch that reminds me of the good old days and the most glamorous, colorful and exciting Grand Prix of the whole season."
So let's take a closer look at the amazing career of Sir Jackie Stewart, former Scottish racing legend and current Rolex brand ambassador. He began his Formula 1 career in 1965 and raced until 1973, after winning three World Drivers' Championships.
Jackie Stewart has worn a Rolex on her wrist for 54 years. He bought his first Rolex Day-Date after racing in the Indianapolis 500 race in 1966. Buying his first Rolex had been a lifelong dream of his, and soon after, André Heiniger, then CEO of Rolex, named Rolex Brand Ambassador, alongside golfing legend Arnold Palmer and Olympic skiing legend Jean-Claud Killy.
Jackie Stewart has worn a Rolex on her wrist for 54 years. He bought his first Rolex Day-Date after racing in the Indianapolis 500 race in 1966. Buying his first Rolex had been a lifelong dream of his, and soon after, André Heiniger, then CEO of Rolex, named Rolex Brand Ambassador, alongside golfing legend Arnold Palmer and Olympic skiing legend Jean-Claud Killy.
Jackie Stewart is pictured below in Monte Carlo in 1965 with colleague Graham Hill, who won the Monte Carlo Grand Prix that year. They chat with Steve McQueen, another Rolex wearer and racing driver.
Jackie Stewart is pictured below with his colleague Graham Hill at the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, June 12, 1966.
The Flying Scotsman
In the next photo, we see Jackie Stewart and Graham Hill taking to the air as they battle it out at the Nürburgring in 1965. Jackie Stewart's nickname is "The Flying Scotsman", and we see why in this incredible racing photo.
Sir Jackie Stewart began his racing career battling to win races. In the photo below, taken in May 1966, he finished 6th in the Indianapolis 500 km. Jackie raced again in 1967 and finished 18th.
Jackie Stewart is pictured below in 1967 at the Indianapolis Grand Prix banquet with fellow legendary superstar Formula 1 drivers Mario Andretti (white jacket) and Graham Hill (mustache), as well as Sid Collins.
Sid Collins was the voice known as "The Voice of The Indianapolis 500" from 1952 to 1978, and made the phrase "The Greatest Spectacle In Racing" famous! In 1967, Sid Collins presented the three drivers with an award for their winning participation in the 1966 Indianapolis 500.
Sid Collins was the voice known as "The Voice of The Indianapolis 500" from 1952 to 1978, and made the phrase "The Greatest Spectacle In Racing" famous! In 1967, Sid Collins presented the three drivers with an award for their winning participation in the 1966 Indianapolis 500.
Sir Jackie Stewart bought his first Rolex, a yellow gold Day-Date, in May 1966 in Texas, just after racing in the Indianapolis 500. He became a Rolex Ambassador in 1968 when Andre Heiniger, the director of Rolex, asked if he could use his image in Rolex advertisements.
Andre Heiniger was an interesting Rolex executive who gravitated to people who were never content to maintain the status quo – he appreciated men who constantly tried to push the envelope, and Jackie Stewart was certainly such a man.
Jackie Stewart was once asked how André Heiniger discovered that Jackie was wearing a Rolex, and Jackie replied that he had no idea.
The following four Rolex advertisements were published in 1968 and feature Jackie Stewart.
Andre Heiniger was an interesting Rolex executive who gravitated to people who were never content to maintain the status quo – he appreciated men who constantly tried to push the envelope, and Jackie Stewart was certainly such a man.
Jackie Stewart was once asked how André Heiniger discovered that Jackie was wearing a Rolex, and Jackie replied that he had no idea.
The following four Rolex advertisements were published in 1968 and feature Jackie Stewart.
Jackie Stewart is pictured below with his wife and their two sons.
Jackie Stewart is pictured above and below with his wife Helen Stewart and his high school sweetheart who he married in 1962, and they remain happily married to this day.
As I mentioned earlier in the story, Jackie Stewart was given the nickname "The Flying Scotsman" and you can see in the photo below why that nickname was so fitting.
Jackie Stewart is pictured below in 1969, far right, with his signature plaid helmet. He is accompanied by other racing legends (from left to right): Henri Pescarolo, Johnny Servoz Gavin and Jean-Pierre Beltoise.
Jackie Stewart is pictured below with Ed Sullivan presenting her with a trophy.
Jackie Stewart is pictured below with fellow racing driver and Rolex Daytona wearer Paul Newman. The photo was taken at Riverside Raceway in California. Riverside Raceway is where Paul Newman filmed "Winning" in 1969. In 1988, Riverside International Raceway was transformed into Riverside Mall.
We see Jackie Stewart, pictured below, with George Harrison and Ringo Star, both members of the Beatles.
Jackie Stewart was a sports commentator in the 1970s on ABC's Wide World Of Sport and we see him below at the Monaco Grand Prix, gifting Argentine Formula 1 legend Carlos Alberto Reutemann with a Rolex GMT Master watch. Americans loved his Scottish accent and colorful personality as a sportscaster.
Jackie Stewart is pictured below in 1991 wearing an espresso GMT Master. After ending his career as a driver and commentator, Jackie Stewart successfully embarked on the creation of his own racing team. To this day, Jackie Stewart remains extremely active and travels an average of 300,000 miles per year!
Jackie Stewart is pictured above and below in photos taken decades apart, wearing his cap and sunglasses.
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