Chart Chirathivat

Chart Chirathivat's Bentley Supersports ISR parked up on the road outside Salvino's.

Coffee stop

Nocturne

Salvino's

Chart Chirathivat

They say Camden is a haven of London counterculture. Its cafes, restaurants, bars, live music and independent shops attract tourists, revellers and shoppers.

But at 5.45am? Not so much. Cats police their territories on silent streets. You might hear the distant whine and grind of a bin lorry. Traffic lights cycle through their three-colour repertoire of red, amber and green to nobody at all.

So you look twice when an immaculate 1990 Bentley Turbo R in Brewster Green pulls up to the kerb in Brecknock Road. And again, when it’s followed seconds later by an ultra-rare 2011 Supersports ISR in black with red highlights.

What are the chances, eh? Good, as it turns out. Both drivers get out and head towards Salvino’s, whose shutters are slowly rising. Coffee’s up.

Businessman Chart Chirathivat owns the Supersports ISR. It’s his first visit to Salvino’s. His friend Neil Clifford, owner of the Turbo R, is a regular.

The pastries are fresh, the espresso has the perfect crema, and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. It’s the perfect early morning petrolhead hangout.

Brothers Antonio and Stefano Salvino have been running this treasure house of home-cooked Italian food, wines and delicacies since 1979. Drop by for a cannolo and macchiato, and you’ll find yourself leaving with an armful of impulse purchases.

Antonio is an Arsenal fan. Stefano supports Tottenham Hotspur. At the time Arsenal were cruising to the title, while Spurs were flirting with relegation. Somehow, brotherly love triumphs even over North London’s bitter sectarian divide.

“When I moved to London, a friend found out that I like cars,” explains Chart. “He said, “there's a guy you must meet. You can talk to him about business, but I'm sure you guys will talk more about cars.” That's when he introduced me to Neil.”

Neil Clifford is CEO of fashion brand Kurt Geiger and co-hosts The Car Podcast with Chris Harris and Friends. Name a modern classic and he’s either had one or still owns it.

Clifford nods. “We hit it off straight away. We’ve both got the addiction. He’s as mad as I am. He’s got the same obsessions, the same knowledge…”

“…almost…” interjects Chart.

Chart explains that he allows himself no more than five cars. Somehow, this recently expanded to ten. “And then I was very good. I sold three…”

“….I bought your NSX…” interrupts Neil.

“…but then I bought two more. So I’m on nine now.”

Addiction is the word.

The Bentley Ice Speed Record car on ice and under a tent.

Chart Chirathivat's Bentley Supersports ISR on grass with the original Ice Speed Record car.

Making history

The Ice Speed Record

Chart's Supersports

In January 2007, four-time World Rally Champion Juha Kankkunen drove a standard Continental GT five miles offshore in the Gulf of Bosnia, on a 70cm thick sheet of frozen sea, and set a new World Ice Speed Record of 199.865 miles an hour.

That missing 0.135mph clearly rankled, because Kankkunen returned in 2011 with the newly launched Supersports Convertible, standard apart from a roll cage and parachute brake.

With 621bhp under the bonnet, Quickshift transmission and all-wheel drive, the Supersports Convertible was the perfect car to go for the record. Air suspension coped superbly with the washboard-like ripples on the frozen sea.

Kankkunen did the rest. Even when the Supersports went into a lurid four-wheel drift at over 200mph, the throttle trace showed he didn’t lift off for a millisecond.

On February 15th, 2011, the record was his once again: 205.48mph over two timed runs.

Kankkunen’s madcap Ice Speed Record made him a 21^st Century Bentley Boy. Bentley celebrated by creating a limited edition Supersports ISR Convertible.

Launched in 2012, it was the most powerful Bentley ever, the most expensive Continental ever and the fastest convertible that the company had built to date. It was also the most eye-catching, offered in Beluga black, Quartzite and Arctica white.

Chart’s Supersports ISR, number 30/100, is finished in Beluga black with red Supersports ISR graphics on the flanks, red bonnet vents and 20-inch red-trimmed wheels. Let’s just say it’s not a car to choose for an undercover operation.

The interior features high-gloss carbon fibre with a red-tinted weave that runs across the fascia and console. It’s paired to diamond-quilted Alcantara and black leather, Pillar Box Red piping and stitching, with red Bentley wings embroidered into the seatbacks. Even the Breitling analogue clock carries a red accent.

Chart Chirathivat's Bentley Supersports ISR on grass with people and cars in the background.

Chart Chirathivat's Bentley Supersports ISR in a covered car park, with a sign to Selfridges in the background.

Chart Chirathivat leaning against his Bentley Supersports ISR, which is parked at the side of a road.

The scramble

Bicester, 9am

Work-life balance

The winged B

The next time we catch up with Chart, it’s at the Bicester Scramble, an eclectic gathering of cars of all eras where enthusiasts meet, chat and admire. Think Italian passeggiata, but on a chilly Oxfordshire airfield instead of a sun-drenched Ligurian seafront.

Chart’s a familiar figure here. He’s constantly greeted by other enthusiasts. He’s here to collect another vehicle for his collection, an immaculate Porsche 968. Another one over his self-imposed limit.

When did the car bug bite?

“My father used to restore Jaguars, Series 2, Series 3, XJS. He’d do them up in Thailand, recondition the interior, do all the mechanical work, and then sell them. I would come to England with him, sourcing the cars, getting spare parts. So that's when I got into it.“

Today Chart Chirathivat is the CEO of Central Group Europe, a multinational property group that owns shopping centres, department stores, restaurants and hotels around the world. It includes London’s Selfridges, where Chart has his office. Central Group is still owned by the Chirathivat family, and Chart represents the third generation.

It’s a demanding role, and Chart also has a young family to care for, but cars are a passion that clears his mind of stress.

“My first car was a BMW 633CSi. Only an automatic, but I loved the shape. I drove it for I don’t know how many years, then one day the door handle came off in my hand, and I thought, uh oh, time for an upgrade.”

There have been several upgrades since (though he’s still looking for a mint condition 633CSi). Any pedigree car will interest him, but the Supersports is a keeper.

“The ISR is my second Supersports. I had one of the first coupés. I really loved that car and took it on several trips to Europe. That's what it was built for, really. Then I did some research and found that the ISR was the ultimate version of that car. When the opportunity came up for the ISR, I went for it.”

Chart stops to admire a Continental R Mulliner, parked near one of the old RAF workshops on site.

“Is this a Mulliner? Yes, it has the flares. It’s beautiful, isn’t it? This is what I like about Bentley. It's like a bodybuilder in a suit. You have that aggression, but you have that refinement as well. The materials they use…it's all beautiful.”

Might a 1990s Continental R make the Chirathivat collection one day? Chart smiles. And with that, he is off again. There are people to meet, and cars to be admired.