Congratulations to the Zenith El Primero Stratos team, which is continuing to passionately write the history of motorsports! Legends live forever!
After these tremendous successes, Eric Comas granted Zenith an interview which I am happy to share:
Q: Champion of the 2015 Italian Historic Rallies and absolute winner of the 70' Rally trophy, what does this all mean to you and how does this fit in with your personal journey?
Eric Comas (EC): Since I ended my professional sports career on the circuit 10 years ago, this has been the first time that I participated in a complete championship and I rediscovered all these emotions and the adrenaline linked to competition over several months and several trials.
Winning a new title (his eighth car...) this time in a rally and in Italy, abroad again after the last two in Japan in 1998 and 1999 in the GT, it provides a very different sense of satisfaction, one that is historical rather than personal. Since 2011 I have actually participated in various rallies in the Lancia Stratos but I often lost the lead (3 times in the Tour de Corse rally) due to reliability issues. In the second half of the season I finally found a great team in Italy that succeeded in making my Stratos reliable, restoring it to its former glory and with whom we successfully created the Zenith El Primero Stratos Team.
I dedicate this title to the legendary Stratos, it has been part of my direction from the creation of a website serving as an homage to it (www.lanciastratos.com), and my book "Lancia Stratos, Mythe et rΓ©alitΓ©" ["Lancia Stratos, Myth and Reality"].
I also dedicate it to Cesare Fiorio, Nucio Bertone and Marcello Gandini and to all the others who made it possible for the Stratos project to become reality in 1974. Competing in these Italian historic rallies with the Lancia Stratos and winning the title and absolute victory in Piancavallo, against the Porsche armada no less, was a dream that was made possible thanks to ZENITH's support.
Q: What was the motivation for this Zenith association through the El Primero Stratos Team?
EC: It was obvious to me, I have been passionate about beautiful mechanics since childhood thanks to a technical education that my father passed on to me as he was personally responsible for the tuning-up of Charles Jourdan's sports cars. The Tour Auto 2013 victory was a turning point in achieving this cultural and sports program in honor of the rallying legend, the Stratos, the site, the book and the team.
ZENITH was the ideal partner, owner of the Stratos name in the watchmaking world and recently heavily involved in the historic car racing scene: the legend and art of excellence had to come together. It was Aldo Magada who immediately understood the dimension that such a partnership could confer upon his brand. Him and I pushed back my European objective to 2016 by first overcoming an Italian championship. Looking back, it was without a doubt the best strategy. As of 2015, this victory sealed a long-term collaboration between us and now we are kicking it into high gear.
Q: Is there a marked difference in living life according to the Zenith pace and that of its El Primero?
EC: Sophisticated elegance and meticulous accuracy. I never take my Zenith El Primero off except for when I am taking a shower or when I go to bed, I have never been so attached to a watch before in my life. This was a revelation, especially because the Primero also has roots in history that I love to continuously revisit with a current vision.
Going one year without having to adjust the time is also a first, my Swiss ties appreciate it.
The watch doesn't make the man, but it can set him apart from others and truly reflect his personality. There is a vast range of options, finding the watch that fits you is a true satisfaction. Sport-chic elegance, technical features, accuracy and comfort were my requirements, which El Primero fully meets.
