The 8th edition of the Le Mans Classic, a biennial vintage sportscar rally held on the grounds of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, kicks off on July 8. As in previous years, Richard Mille — official timekeeper and principal partner of the event — will offer a special watch commemorating it. This year’s edition is the Richard Mille RM 11-02 Le Mans Classic.
Richard Mille, a brand founded by an auto racing enthusiast and long associated with motorsports, has partnered with the Le Mans Classic — which brings together exceptional pre-1979 vehicles that have competed in previous 24 Hours of Le Mans races in a series of professional races — since its inception in 2002.
The new watch, which is limited to 150 pieces, is equipped with an automatic movement whose notable features include a baseplate and bridges made of PVD-treated, wet-sandblasted grade 5 titanium; a variable-geometry rotor; a free-sprung balance with variable inertia; and a double-barrel winding system that amasses a 55-hour power reserve. The movement powers the watch’s flyback chronograph (with 24-hour counter at 6 o’clock), annual calendar, UTC display, and countdown function (at 9 o’clock).
The tonneau case of the RM 11-02 Le Mans Classic combines a bezel and caseback made of white ATZ ceramic with a caseband and crown made of NTPT carbon. The green and white colors of the Le Mans Classic competition are displayed on the dial flange, the rubber strap, and the rubber collar around the crown. Other aesthetic touches inspired by automotive design: the grooved chronograph pushers reminiscent of the pedals in vintage roadsters, the crown that resembles a clutch mechanism, and the movement’s baseplate, which is ribbed in the style of an engine crankcase. The Le Mans Classic logo appears at 12 o’clock on the openworked dial, while the red number “16” on the 6 o’clock subdial alludes to the start time of the race.
The Richard Mille RM 11-02 Le Mans Classic is priced at $180,000.
