Revving up with Sir Jackie Stewart
The former F1 driver and Rolex’s longest-standing ‘Testimonee’ is the force behind a festival of motoring in aid of his charity Race Against Dementia
Triple Formula 1 world champion Sir Jackie Stewart is rarely seen without a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona strapped to his wrist – and he also holds the distinction of being the longeststanding Rolex ‘Testimonee’, having signed with the brand in 1968.
But it wasn’t until three years later that he received his first Daytona, which he was awarded for being the fastest qualifier at the 1971 Monaco Grand Prix, an event that he went on to win. “I still have it, with the back engraved ‘Monaco Grand Prix, pole position, 1971,’” he says.
Sir Jackie is also renowned for his years of tireless campaigning to improve safety in F1, and this weekend he appears in his native Scotland to promote a celebration of his remarkable career at The Sir Jackie Stewart Classic.
Taking place at Thirlestane Castle in Lauder, the Rolex-sponsored gathering will feature more than 1,200 classic and contemporary cars, a timed sprint up the castle driveway and a clay-pigeon shoot – harking back to the star’s pre-racing days when he was a champion skeet shooter and member of the national team.
He hopes the event will raise awareness of his charity, Race Against Dementia, which he set up after his wife of 60 years, Helen, was diagnosed with the disease in 2014.
“The statistics show that as many as one in three people will end up with dementia, for which there is currently no cure,” he explains.
“To me, that is unacceptable,” he continues. “So what we are trying to do with Race Against Dementia is to bring to the medical profession the type of ultra-fast problem-solving that is seen in Formula 1.”
To date, the charity has raised £6 million – money that is being used to fund research fellows from all over the world “to solve a problem that people have been working on for 50 years without success,” notes Sir Jackie.
“In my day, a Formula 1 pit stop took around two minutes. Now it takes two to three seconds,” he says. “My dream is to similarly reduce the time it’s going to take to find a cure for dementia. It’s the greatest challenge I have ever faced, but we have to address it.” The Sir Jackie Stewart Classic presented by Rolex takes place today (Saturday) and tomorrow.
For more information and to book tickets, visit thirlestanecastle. co.uk. To learn more about Sir Jackie’s charity, go to raceagainst dementia.com