This sculpture, a tribute to the famous racing driver Williams, who drove a Bugatti to victory in the first ever Monaco Grand Prix in 1929, was officially unveiled by Prince Rainier III in May 2001. The artist successfully brings to life the momentum of the car, driven by the champion on the iconic ...
This sculpture, a tribute to the famous racing driver Williams, who drove a Bugatti to victory in the first ever Monaco Grand Prix in 1929, was officially unveiled by Prince Rainier III in May 2001. The artist successfully brings to life the momentum of the car, driven by the champion on the iconic Monaco circuit. The inaugural Monaco Grand Prix took place on 14 April 1929. A field of 16 drivers lined up to complete 100 laps, a distance of more than 300 kilometres. Half of the cars competing were made by the Franco-Italian constructor Bugatti. It was British driver William Grover-Williams, also known simply as ‘Williams’, who triumphed in the race, clocking up an average speed of 80.194 km/h in his green Bugatti 35 B. With its distinctive silhouette and power, this particular car is a mechanical masterpiece.
François Chevalier is a French painter and sculptor born in 1942, in Lyon. After studying classics in Bordeaux, he fulfilled a childhood dream by becoming a professional racing driver in 1967-1968 (taking part in the Le Man 24 Hours twice, and also driving in Formula 3, and the Luigi Chinetti Trophy). He was the director of the Paul Ricard Circuit from 1970 to 1999, organising major races that put the track in Le Castellet on the international map, including the French Formula 1 Grand Prix, Moto GP, and the Bol d’or. His watercolours, illustrations, and sculptures faithfully portray prestigious racing cars in a dynamic environment. In 2003, he published a book illustrated with his own watercolours entitled “Le Petit Bugattiste illustré”, telling the story of the Alsace-based carmaker.
