The thrill of speed is like an addiction not many people can handle. Only a few have the ability to combine the thrill with a sense of duty and the need to play it safe. Jacques Villenveue knows that the racing tracks are washed in a lot of adrenaline and his mastery behind the steering wheel channels his course through this exhilarating event. The Rolex Thunderbird is also a blazer on the tracks like Jacques and alike the racer it can set the pulses racing too.

Jacques was literally born on the racing tracks. His father is a former Formula One driver and it did not come as a surprise when Jacques won the 1995 CART Championship and also went on to win the Indianapolis 500 in the same year. A couple of years later Jacques won the 1997 Formula One World Championship. Jacques is also the only Canadian driver to have won the F1 Drivers’ title. In 1997 Villeneuve challenged Michael Schumacher and the result was so astounding that not only did Schumacher retire but he was also subsequently disqualified from the 1997 World Championship. In 1999 Jacques moved to the British American Racing team and stayed with the team for four consecutive seasons. Villeneuve has also charted careers off the Formula One tracks.

Born in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec in 1971 he was the first group to be initiated into Canada’s Walk Of Fame. He was also the Canadian Athlete of the Year in ’95 and ’97. The following year Jacques was made an Officer in the National Order of Quebec. In 1992, Villeneuve raced in the Japanese Formula Three Series and after winning three series he got the second spot in the championship. Craig Pollock, invited Villeneuve to compete as a one off in the prestigious Trois Rivieres Formula Atlantic race and Pollock was so overwhelmed with Jacques’ performance that he arranged for the racer to compete in the North American Toyota Atlantic series in the following season.

In the consecutive season in 1993, Villeneuve took seven pole positions and five race victories from 15 races that he participated in. In his debut season he finished third in the standings. In the next year Villeneuve came second in the year’s Indianapolis 500 and also won his first race at Road America. Villeneuve finished this season at a good sixth position and also captured the very coveted Rookie of the Year award. His debut with Williams at the race in Australia was a good start. Villeneueve’s first victory at the Formula One came at the Nurburgring series and later Jacques won three more races taking his feat to the most in a rookie season by a racer.

In 2000, Villeneuve finished in the points on seven races and also scored well in the United States Grand Prix. After a sabbatical Jacques returned to Formula One driving for the Renault team. Villeneuve also signed a two year contract with Sauber in 2005. Racing for Sauber at the Australian Grand Prix the Canadian scored his first points with the team with a fourth place. In 2007, Villeneueve was confirmed as one of Peugeot’s drivers for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In the 2008 race Villeneuve and his team won the second place. Jacques has also dabbled in music, releasing his first album called Private Paradise in 2007.

The Rolex Thunderbird has a rotating bezel unlike stationary bezels on most Rolex watches. Introduced in the 1950’s this watch is an interesting variation on a classic Rolex model. The watch is pure stainless steel and comes with an 18ct white gold bezel. The Thunderbird like Villeneuve is a rare find and was born to race ahead of time quite literally.