Relaxed atmospherePrecious Timekeepers and Fast Race Cars: Glashütte Original and Christian Danner
Within the framework of Great Britain’s GP Masters in Silverstone, watch manufactory Glashütte Original and former Formula 1 driver Christian Danner invited former Formula 1 elite drivers to an exclusive evening event that included a watch presentation. When Danner extended his invitation, (almost) everyone came. Of the sixteen drivers participating in the Grand Prix, thirteen arrived with escorts in tow the evening before the practice. The list of guests present read like a Who’s Who of the racing scene: Nigel Mansell, Emerson Fitipaldi, Hans-Joachim Stuck, Riccardo Patrese and Eliseo Salazar, to only name a few.
In addition to shop talk about the approaching race, attention and interest was focused on Glashütte Original’s mechanical timepieces. To create a relaxed atmosphere throughout the evening, Danner, as a friend to and authority on Glashütte watchmaking, provided the guests with the manufactory’s president, Dr. Frank Müller, and master watchmaker and product manager Matthias Elbe.
Their enthusiasm for technology and design quickly infected the evening’s guests. Numerous questions were posed and answered; the racers were especially interested in the superior craftsmanship that these master watchmakers invest into their work. The drivers had difficulty tearing themselves away from the technical masterpieces but, in view of the imminent practice session the next day, their professionalism and passion for racing triumphed.