Watches and Racing: The Perfect Match

For almost three decades Swedish-born Johansson has been one of the top drivers in the world of international motorsports. He has been successful in Formula One, IndyCar and Le Mans style sports car racing, and has driven for some of the most prestigious teams in the world including Ferrari, McLaren and Toyota.

Today he remains active as a racing driver, as well as managing his own successful racing team, but away from the track Johansson has a myriad of diversions. An accomplished painter, he has had work displayed at several exhibitions. But most notable is the eponymous Stefan Johansson Vaxjo watch company, which produces customised, limited-edition timepieces.

Having initially worked side-by-side with watch brands, the 54-year-old polymath finally decided that he wanted to make his own last year. Today a host of racing drivers and fans are owners of Stefan Johansson watches.

Johansson and his team design all of the watches for the label, pulling together his racing pedigree with a creative eye to produce classic sports timepieces.

Each watch designed is typically limited to a maximum of 250 pieces, all of which are individually built and numbered, along with the inscription of the name of the customer on the glass back.

Next up for Johansson will be the launch of a range of exclusive products such as fragrances, optics, luggage and other accessories.

For the man himself. it will simply be another chapter in a fascinating life. In his own words, “when you stretch yourself to a point where you have never been before, beyond your fears, there is an enormous sense of freedom."