OMOLOGATO RELEASES TWO NEW WATCHES

OMOLOGATO RELEASES NEW WATCHES PAYING HOMAGE TO TWO LEGENDARY MOTOR RACING CIRCUITS

Over the years, Omologato’s finely crafted watches have paid tribute to some of motorsport’s greatest names, and its latest models continue that tradition.

Omologato honours Zandvoort with stunning new watch
Sweeping through sand dunes on the Dutch coast, Zandvoort has a unique atmosphere to go with its rich history. The original layout was formed using roads that were constructed during the German occupation in World War Two, and while the circuit may have changed over the years, its essential appeal remains very much intact.

During its time as a Grand Prix venue, it offered a challenge unlike any other, from the famous Tarzan hairpin home to many a banzai overtaking manoeuvre – to the ultra-fast right-handers at Tunnel Ost and Bos Uit. Its deceptive undulations and minimal run-off areas placed a premium on precision as well as bravery.

Siamese ace Prince Bira won the first Prijs von Zandvoort in 1948, and the list of those to have followed in his footsteps reads like a Who's Who of motorsport history. By 1955, the Dutch Grand Prix was part of the Formula One World Championship, and that year the great Juan Manuel Fangio led his young Mercedes team-mate Stirling Moss over the line by only 0.3 seconds.

The legendary Jim Clark won the Dutch Grand Prix four times, but it was the last of those that is best remembered. In 1967, Lotus boss Colin Chapman chose Zandvoort to unveil his latest masterpiece, the beautiful 49 – and in the back was the new Ford Cosworth DFV engine. Clark had never even sat in the car before that weekend, but he nonetheless took it to a debut victory – the first of 155 Grand Prix wins for the immortal DFV.

In 1975, a new British sensation announced his arrival on the international scene. Charismatic and supremely talented, James Hunt scored his first Grand Prix victory at Zandvoort for Hesketh, and won again for McLaren in 1976 – the year in which he famously waged a titanic battle for championship honours with Niki Lauda. It was perhaps fitting that Lauda later won the circuit's final Dutch Grand Prix in 1985.

Zandvoort has always been capable of evoking extreme emotions. When BRM finally fulfilled its promise with victory in the 1959 Grand Prix, team founder Raymond Mays was in tears as Jo Bonnier crossed the line. And while there were those who were outraged when Gilles Villeneuve three-wheeled his Ferrari back to the pits in 1979 after suffering a puncture at Tarzan, it was an unforgettable demonstration of the 'never say die' attitude for which fans adored him.

Almost inevitably given the dangers of that time, there was also tragedy. The fast corners at the back of the circuit claimed the lives of Piers Courage in 1970 and Roger Williamson three years later, the latter despite the valiant rescue effort of David Purley, who was later awarded the George Medal for his actions.

Today's layout retains much of the original's challenge, and Max Verstappen's meteoric rise has put The Netherlands once more at the heart of top-level motorsport. Few countries have a more enthusiastic fan-base, and for generation after generation they've been making a pilgrimage to Zandvoort – the circuit by the sea.

Renowned British watchmaker Omologato is paying tribute to the circuit with the launch of its new Zandvoort timepiece. Its stylish retro design features sapphire glass as well as a beautifully engineered caseback, and honours The Netherlands via its use of traditional Dutch orange. Along with the new Kyalami, the Zandvoort is also the first Omologato watch to feature Seiko automatic movement, with a sweeping seconds hand. A leather strap is included, plus a NATO strap as a spare, and there's a watch roll plus strap-changing tool. Both the Zandvoort and the Kyalami are fitting additions to Omologato's motorsport-themed line-up, and continue the company's tradition of honouring racing history.

Omologato releases new watch celebrating legendary Kyalami circuit
Nestling in the Gauteng province at an altitude of 5000 feet, Kyalami has been the jewel in the crown of South African motorsport for almost 60 years. The original layout was not for the faint of heart – from the long pit straight to the downhill right-hander at Barbecue Bend and the all-or-nothing Jukskei Sweep, Kyalami was a high-speed challenge that was conquered only by the very best. Niki Lauda won there three times; Jackie Stewart and Nigel Mansell twice. In 1985, Mansell took pole position at the breath-taking average speed of 147mph.

Opened in 1961, Kyalami held its first Grand Prix six years later, and was where Jim Clark and Jack Brabham both scored their final victories. But it was also the scene of memorable breakthroughs – in 1971, Mario Andretti claimed his first Grand Prix win on his debut for Ferrari, instantly making the versatile Italian-American a hero to the tifosi who follow the Scuderia's every move.

Three years later, Carlos Reutemann took not only his maiden victory, but also the first for the Brabham team since it had been bought by Bernie Ecclestone. It was the first time that a car designed by Gordon Murray won a Grand Prix – it would certainly not be the last.

Kyalami always had a knack for producing sensational racing and memorable moments. In 1978, Ronnie Peterson muscled past Patrick Depailler during a frantic final lap and crossed the line only 0.4 seconds clear of his rival. And in 1983, Nelson Piquet snatched the world title from Alain Prost in the final round of the championship.

For many years, the South African Grand Prix either opened or closed the season, which gave it an atmosphere unlike any other. The camaraderie between the drivers was different in those laid-back days, and they all tended to stay at the Kyalami Ranch, where they could make the most of the African sun by relaxing around the swimming pool. From there, they could look up to the track at the top of the hill.

But Kyalami's reputation as a truly great venue was built on much more than Formula One. The Nine Hours sports car race attracted a stellar field throughout the 1960s and '70s. David Piper – one of the era's most celebrated privateer entrants – won it six times, while Jacky Ickx did likewise on four occasions. During the revered Group C era of the 1980s, Kyalami hosted a round of the World Sportscar Championship, and in 1983 the pairing of Derek Bell and German wunderkind Stefan Bellof took victory in the iconic Porsche 956.

No matter what the car, Kyalami was a place that sorted the men from the boys. The Highveld in which the circuit was built is 'big sky' country, and the majestic landscape was a fitting backdrop to one of the most challenging motorsport venues of all – a Mecca of speed where legends were made and champions crowned.

Renowned British watchmaker Omologato is paying tribute to the circuit with the launch of its new Kyalami timepiece. Its stylish retro design honours South Africa via its use of green and red, and features sapphire glass as well as a beautifully engineered caseback. Along with the new Zandvoort, the Kyalami is also the first Omologato watch to feature Seiko automatic movement, with a sweeping seconds hand. A leather strap is included, plus a NATO strap as a spare, and there's a watch roll plus strap-changing tool. Both the Kyalami and the Zandvoort are fitting additions to Omologato's motorsport-themed line-up, and continue the company's tradition of honouring racing history.