Gianclaudio Giuseppe “Clay” Regazzoni (September 5, 1939 – December 15, 2006) was a Swiss Racing driver who had competed in Formula 1 from 1970 until 1980. He has five Grand Prix wins, and stood on the podium a total of 28 times.
Debut with Ferrari
Regazzoni made his Formula 1 debut with Ferrari in 1970, when the Italian team entered a second car several rounds into the year. He scored his first win plus three additional podiums in his first partial Grand Prix season. Regazzoni continued racing for Ferrari through 1972.
BRM
After leaving Ferrari, Regazzoni signed to race with BRM for 1973 alongside a young Niki Lauda. Despite qualifying on pole at the season opener, the Swiss driver ended the season with only two points.
Return to Ferrari
After a leadership change at Ferrari, both Regazzoni and Lauda were signed by the Italian team for the 1974 season. He remained with Ferrari until 1976, adding three more wins during that time.
Ensign, Shadow, and Williams
Regazzoni raced with Ensign in 1977 and Shadow in 1978, both years with limited success. 1979 was his final season in competitive Formula 1 machinery, when he raced for Williams. Despite scoring four podiums and winning the British Grand Prix that year, Regazzoni was replaced at the end of the season.
Return to Ensign and Career-Ending Accident
Regazzoni made a return to Ensign for 1980, but was involved in an accident four rounds into the season that left him paralyzed from the waist down, ending his Formula 1 career.
Association with Heuer
Heuer released a line of F1 Cavallino helmet clocks in the mid-1970s. Regazzoni was included in the lineup, alongside other Formula 1 drivers including Mario Andretti, James Hunt, Jacky Ickx, Niki Lauda, Jochen Mass, Alain Prost, and Jody Scheckter.
Regazzoni was also known for wearing the Heuer Silverstone chronograph (ref. 10.313 B).
Clay Regazzoni Watches
While not well documented apart from independent listings, there appears to have been a variety of Clay Regazzoni-branded watches on the market.
Bradford: Clay Regazzoni- A Life at the Limit
An officially licensed “Clay Regazzoni- A Life at the Limit” quartz chronograph was announced in early 2018, and sold exclusively through The Bradford Exchange.
The presence of any potential connections with other Clay Regazzoni-branded watches is not currently clear.
References
https://www.clayregazzoni.com/
https://magazine.tagheuer.com/en/2024/11/26/2024-04-week4_en_a-matter-of-time-podcast-season-3-the-grand-story-of-formula-1/
https://tagheuerenthusiast.blogspot.com/2018/12/auction-watch-heuer-helmet-alarm-clocks.html
https://www.bobshop.co.za/wow-rare-1970s-heuer-cavallino-clay-regazzoni-helmut-clock-with-box-value-r8500/p/231033355
https://www.onthedash.com/document/1978-catalog/
https://www.classicheuer.de/en/chronographs/heuer-silverstone-clay-regazzoni-vintage-blue-dial/
https://www.autosprint.ch/en/lifestyle/clay-regazzoni-nun-kommt-seine-revival-uhr/
https://web.archive.org/web/20180605091527/https://www.bradford.ch/