Chopard sponsors Strolz Gassner Racing Team at 6th Rallye "Beijing – Paris", 2016
Chopard is proud to support the Austrian team during the Rallye "Beijing – Paris" this year, which will take place from June 12th to July 17th. This race, organised by the Endurance Rally Association, is recognized as the hardest classic car race in the world and also known as "The 6th Peking to Paris Motor Challenge 2016" As an outsider looking in, I can't see this as being "35 days of fun". Driving 300 - 400 km a day on skinny tyres and primitive suspension with token brakes and minimal protection from the elements seems too adventurous to me! In fact, it looks like torture when you see the weather-beaten features of the haggard drivers each night. Their watches had better be tough...(MTF)
The driver – Ingo Strolz, takes on the challenge in a field of 110 cars, with his co-driver and mechanic – Werner Gassner.
Starting as No. 2 in Beijing, the Austrian drivers will wear Mille Miglia GTS Chrono watches during the race.
There are four classes of cars:
1.Vintage cars (1920 to 1931)
2.Vintage cars (1932 to 1941)
3.Classic cars up to 2L (1942 to 1975)
4.Classic cars over 2L (1942 to 1975)
They will be driving a 99-year old chain-driven 'American La France Tourer Speedster', 14.5 L cubic capacity, 140 HP output and a top speed of 150 km/h. The rallye will start at The Great Wall of China outside Peking (Beijing), travelling through Mongolia, across parts of Russia, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy and Switzerland before expected arrival in Place Vendome, Paris on 17th of July. The distance is 13,695 kilometers and the race will last 35 days.
"We both participated in the 2013 race. It was a good experience and we learned a lot. Most of the time we had only 3 – 4 hours sleep per night because after each daily stage there were repairs to do on the car, as well as maintenance works. The race is an extreme challenge for humans and machines; in the Gobi desert there are no streets, only sand tracks and it is hard to navigate. Our car has neither a tachometer nor a GPS or any other devices. Timing is very important to us. Nevertheless, sand and hard shocks will make high demands on the watches", says Ingo Strolz.
During the race, the Strolz Gassner Racing team can be tracked on their website HERE
Read in Chopard Diary about Mille Miglia Gentlemen Drivers HERE
Really great trip that would be, BUT
Look at the first photo, the watches have just been put on the wrist for the photo, not even the strap is fully closed. Even, there is a possibility the watches have just been put in by Photoshop, because on photo 7 that definitely is a fake...very sad...
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Of course, some photos are set up photoshoots
The static shots are done usually at the pre- or post-event dinner.
You can see the glass display cases and background posters.
I looked closely at the watches on the wrist in photo 1 and it just looks like a normal way to wear a NATO-style strap; what's the problem?
The loose end always flops like that from the steel retainer ring.
From my personal observations at various races that Chopard sponsors, the drivers really are given watches and all of them wear them before and after the races.
Some even wear them during the race!
All competitors at Mille Miglia got a free watch even if their racing team is not sponsored by Chopard.
Yes, it is marketing but it is real and not just loan watches only for the photoshoot.
Chopard gets a lot of feedback from the drivers and reliability data.
I cannot comment on the photo from the desert as I was not there. As it is in one of the most remote and hostile environments in the world, I'm not sure which photographer would stand in the desert waiting for these cars to whizz by. 
Regards,
MTF
Fair enough and don't get me wrong
I usually try to flap the end around of the NATO strap, but of course depends on wrist size.
I do remain of the opinon that on the desert photo, the watch was only added with Photoshop, which I think is quite obvious and would not have been necessary.
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A truly exciting race!
Hopefully someday 