René de Knyff

Chevalier René de Knyff (December 10, 1865 in Antwerp, Belgium [1] – 1954 in France) was a French pioneer of car racing and later a president of Commission Sportive Internationale (CSI), now known as FIA.

Between 1897 and 1903 he took part in 18 car races, 5 of which he won (Paris-Bordeaux 1898, Spa-Bastogne-Spa 1899, Tour de France 1899, Circuit du Sud-Ouest Pau 1899, and Nice-Marseille-Nice, 1900).

[2] He drove all the races in a Panhard & Levassor, wearing a captain cap which he always lost right after start.

For example, during the Paris-Bordeaux race in 1895, he saw his great rival Fernand Charron who was sitting on the road next to his undependable car, tired and desperate.

[3] He was a popular figure also due to his enormous beard, bohemian lifestyle (he knew where to get the best champagne, cigars and Rhine wine),[3] and interest in many other sports, such as tennis, shooting, cycling, and also hunting.