Ran the Monte Carlo Rally and the Monaco Grand Prix on Royal request right up until his death. By the time the World Championship started, Chiron was 50 years old and although he produced a few notable results, focus on these years overshadow how good he was - he won 25 Grand Prix or F1 races between 1928 and 1947, which was capped by one of his last hurrahs, in 1949, at the French Grand Prix, taking his 26th Grand Prix victory. The son of the maitre d' at Monte Carlo's Hotel de Paris, Chiron served the French Army in World War 1. He got into motor racing largely by his immense charm and good looks and notably had an affair with his backer's wife, Alice Hoffmann, before Bugatti saved him from a potentially nasty tangle - as well as a loss of funds - and signed him up as a works driver. Chiron was also very adept in sportscars and also won the 1954 Monte Carlo Rally.

Biography last updated 22 Oct 2015