Born in August 1899, the son of a French hotelier in Monaco he became that principalities most famous sportsman. Holding dual citizenship Chiron joined the French army prior to his 18th birthday, serving as an artilleryman during World War I. He later became the personal driver to Marshal Foch in 1919. After leaving the Army he started his racing career driving Bugatti’s.
He began by entering local events organized by the Moto Club de Nice. In 1926 he raced for Alfred Hoffman heir to the Hoffman-La Roche pharmaceutical company. One of Hoffman’s companies produced spark plugs and to promote his company he entered a Bugatti for Chiron. The Bugatti with Chiron as its driver made many visits to the winner’s circle. According to Rudolf Caracciola:
Become a Member & Get Ad-Free Access To This Article (& About 6,000+ More)
Access to the full article is limited to paid subscribers only. Our membership removes most ads, lets you enjoy unlimited access to all our premium content, and offers you awesome discounts on partner products. Enjoy our premium content.
