The Le Mans Classic brings to life over 80 years of automobile racing history, welcoming the cars and drivers responsible for the legendary standing of the world’s most famous race. The 2016 edition will begin straight away on Friday, with the opening act: Group C Racing, a tremendous first for this competition.

This retrospective of past Le Mans 24 Hours, which attracted over 110,000 people for the 2014 edition, is also an opportunity to attend one of the world’s largest gatherings of exceptional vehicles, bringing together 60 carmakers represented by 160 automobile clubs for a total of 8,000 cars. These will all convene around the circuit, and a few will take advantage of the occasion to go for a spin around the track for the amazing parade, accompanied by cheers from the public.

A partner of the event since its inception in 2002, Richard Mille celebrates the Le Mans Classic by creating a new watch for each edition of the race. This year, the brand will unveil the RM 11-02 Le Mans Classic, an automatic calibre in grade 5 titanium incorporating a variable-geometry rotor, annual calendar, UTC display, 24-hour yback chronograph and countdown feature. The RM 11-02 Le Mans Classic bears the colours of the historic competition not only on the movement, but also on its white ATZ ceramic caseband and the rubber collar of its NTPT carbon crown.

From the design of its pushers, whose grooves recall the surface of vintage pedals, to the meticulously precision-machined crown reminiscent of a clutch mechanism by way of its baseplate, ribbed like an engine crankcase, the RM 11-02, a limited edition of 150 pieces, is imbued with a passion for automobiles. As a final reminder of the historic race, the Le Mans Classic logo appears on the dial at 12 o’clock along with the number ‘16’, an allusion to the start time of the endurance race.

Technical specifications of the RM 11-02 Le Mans Classic:

- Automatic winding movement
- Power reserve: approximately 55 hours
- Baseplate and bridges in titanium, PVD-treated and wet sandblasted - Annual calendar
- Flyback chronograph
- 24-hour counter at 6 o’clock
- Countdown function at 9 o’clock
- UTC display
- Free sprung balance with variable inertia
- Double-barrel winding system
- Bezel and caseback in white ATZ ceramic, caseband in NTPT carbon - Chamfering and polishing performed by hand
- Microblasted surfaces with sapphire microbeads