Automotive
This 2010 post by 219 captures the exhilarating spirit of the Le Mans Classic, highlighting the deep connection between Richard Mille, vintage racing, and the brand's philosophy. The author vividly describes the event's growth, the iconic cars, and the enduring passion for motor racing that defines Richard Mille's involvement. It offers a unique glimpse into the brand's origins and its founder's personal commitment to the world of high-performance automobiles.
Richard Mille of Richard Mille Watches at Le Mans Classic 2010
“Lots of people go through life doing things badly. Racing’s important to men who do it well. When you are racing, its life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting.” Mike Delaney, Le Mans, 1971.
[Richard racing in his Lola T-70 flies through the Dunlop bridge]
I have seen the Le Mans Classic event grow from a small gathering of car enthusiasts, to what is now an established event in the motor racing calendar. It was once the case that anyone could turn up, and pretty much drive your car around the Le Mans circuit. This year the queue to get in as a spectator stretched down the motorway for kilometres as the event has become a glorious spectacle of motor racing history. When Richard had not even produced one watch, he was contacted by an old friend (Patrick Peter) in the motor racing world who was organizing the Le Mans Classic and asked for Richard’s help with finding a timing sponsor for the new event. The timing could not have been more fortuitous. With a newly founded watch firm, a life-long passion for motor-racing, and the chance to race at Le Mans, it was a perfect match. Richard Mille watches and the Le Mans Classic have ‘grown up’ with each other. 
[Sunrise over the start/finish straight]
[A lone GT40 races through the start/finish line and onwards to the Dunlop corner]
On the Saturday of the event, when the Porsche 917 was flying through the grandstand finish, the crowds were such that you could have believed you were stepping back in time. A crowded grandstand strained their necks to see Richard Attwood (winner of the 1970 Le Mans with the same Porsche 917) fly the starting straight once again.
To be by the side of the track as the race starts is an experience in itself. The older classes of race cars (before 1970) start with the drivers running to their cars; the more recent era race cars are started off a rolling start. Perhaps Le Mans greatest ever driver (Jacky Ickx) refused to become embroiled in the chaos of the running start and watched everyone else drive off before walking casually to the car, getting in, and then driving off after the other competitors. He won the race too!
[The Porsche 917 in Gulf colours flies the start/finish straight]
[The rolling start – note the green light in the top right hand corner. Also note the trio of GT40’s on the right hand side of the track. They would fly to the front of the grid]
[The winning GT40 for its category at the Le Mans Classic]
The essence of the endurance race is not to accelerate constantly, to get you sooner to the finish line, it is only that you have more kilometres to cover. Endurance racing requires the same kind of patience as the watchmaker; the eyes remain on the end prize, but it is not to race to a finish line as such, the aim is to be the best when the time has finished.
This message has been edited by SJX on 2010-07-18 20:23:15
This message has been edited by MTF on 2010-07-18 23:10:09 This message has been edited by 219 on 2010-07-19 02:30:17The glory of an event such as the Le Mans Classic is that in an age when your internet mobile connected phone tells you the time, where and with whom you should be with, and even how popular you might be, we seem to desire more and more to return to a bygone age where life was more an experience, a journey of exploration. Where car races were started with you running to your car, jumping in, and roaring off into the distance, where your watch, your demeanour defined who you were. You were with w
I think the same material as the RM 027. Plastic carbon or something. What I can see is that the RM 011 FM is made in green and yelliw probally for the brazillian flag. Lets wait with patience from a distance I like it. Koen S.
Patience is a virtue that is rewarded! Thanks Andrew H
Richard was racing this year. In his beloved Lola T-70, he pitted his speed against others in a tough class. This year, it was 40 years since Porsche started their dominance of the Le Mans race for the 1970’s and 80’s and on display were some of the more memorable racing cars from their racing years. The jewel in the crown was the Richard Attwood 1970 Porsche 917 in Gulf colours; evocative, fast, and a joy to behold racing on the circuit. The 917 ushered in the modern age of racing, aerodynamics
some beautiful cars on show thx for the post
Andrew H
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