Grand Prix racing driver. Louis Alexandre Chiron was born in Monte Carlo in the tiny Principality of Monaco. His father was a French citizen so Louis claimed dual citizenship. In WW1 he joined the French Army starting off in the artillery but eventually becoming the chauffeur to Marechal Foch, Commander-in-Chief of the Western Front. After the war he became a 'dancing partner' for rich ladies at the Hotel de Paris where his father was the Maitre d'. Without a rich background, this was how some drivers found sponsors to be able to race. He began racing in local races in 1923 but a friend soon introduced him to Bugatti and drove their cars from the 1927 British GP onwards. In 1929 he won the German and Spanish GPs, and the Belgian GP the following year. By 1932 he was sacked by Bugatti for disobeying orders. By 1935 he was driving Ferrari Alfa Romeos, no match for the super-fast French cars. He retired from racing but was lured back to race a Talbot-Lago to victory in the French GP. By 1938 he again retired yet after WW2 he again returned racing Talbots and Maseratis, even winning the 1949 French GP. He retired once and for all in 1956 to concentrate on running the Monaco GP, after forty years behind the wheel.
Grand Prix racing driver. Louis Alexandre Chiron was born in Monte Carlo in the tiny Principality of Monaco. His father was a French citizen so Louis claimed dual citizenship. In WW1 he joined the French Army starting off in the artillery but eventually becoming the chauffeur to Marechal Foch, Commander-in-Chief of the Western Front. After the war he became a 'dancing partner' for rich ladies at the Hotel de Paris where his father was the Maitre d'. Without a rich background, this was how some drivers found sponsors to be able to race. He began racing in local races in 1923 but a friend soon introduced him to Bugatti and drove their cars from the 1927 British GP onwards. In 1929 he won the German and Spanish GPs, and the Belgian GP the following year. By 1932 he was sacked by Bugatti for disobeying orders. By 1935 he was driving Ferrari Alfa Romeos, no match for the super-fast French cars. He retired from racing but was lured back to race a Talbot-Lago to victory in the French GP. By 1938 he again retired yet after WW2 he again returned racing Talbots and Maseratis, even winning the 1949 French GP. He retired once and for all in 1956 to concentrate on running the Monaco GP, after forty years behind the wheel.
