Chopard on the podium of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Porsche
After celebrating a double podium at Spa Francorchamps, the three Porsche teams campaigned for victory at the legendary race of Le Mans. This year, Porsche reaffirmed its historic supremacy in motorsport and endurance racing 17 years after the last victory of the firm in Le Mans. The three LMP1 Porsche 919 Hybrid’s driven by Nico Hülkenberg, Mark Webber and Romain Dumas started from the first three places on the grid. After clocking up 395 laps in a demanding 24 hours, they crossed the finish line first, second and the fifth, sealing an outstanding double victory for the team. On this occasion, Chopard unveiled a new, limited edition watch, the Superfast Chrono Porsche 919 Jacky Ickx, dedicated to “Mr. Le Mans”, a driver with an impressive six victories record at Le Mans and a longstanding ambassador of Chopard and Porsche.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world’s oldest endurance sports car race, held annually since 1923 near the town of Le Mans, France. It is one of the most prestigious automobile races in the world and is often called the “Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency”. Amongst racing drivers it is considered to be one of the most challenging races to win during the season.
Racing teams have to balance speed with the cars’ ability to perform during 24 hours without mechanical damage or failure. The cars’ consumables, primarily fuel and tyres are constantly monitored and managed. Pit stops need to be strategically planned and current regulations mandate that three drivers share each competing vehicle. Drivers frequently race for over three hours at a time with maximum speeds up to 340 km/h all through the night.
Le Mans 2015: An outstanding 17th victory for Porsche Motorsport using Hybrid technology
In the 83rd edition of Le Mans, Porsche sealed an historic 17th victory. The German manufacturer finished first, second and fifth in front of 263,500 spectators. Drivers Nico Hülkenberg, Earl Bamber and Nick Tandy won the coveted trophy in their innovative Porsche 919 Hybrid exactly 45 years after Porsche’s first overall win at La Sarthe was achieved. Mark Webber, Timo Bernhard, Brendon Hartley in the sister car came home second. Romain Dumas, Neel Jani and Marc Lieb coming in fifth.
Further, Nico Hülkenberg became the first driver to win Le Mans overall at a first attempt since Laurent Aiello in 1998.
No other manufacturer than Porsche has managed to win the world’s toughest endurance race so many times and is so closely connected to the myth of Le Mans.
Chopard is extremely proud to be a partner of the Porsche Motorsport team!
On this occasion, Mr. Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Co-President of Chopard said: “As a Porsche enthusiast I am totally thrilled about this well-deserved victory achieved by an outstanding team!”
Porsche and Chopard: timing, precision and performance. A new Superfast Chronograph
For the second year, Chopard is proud to be the Official Timing Partner of Porsche Motorsport. Perfectly in line with the spirit of the Superfast watch collection, this prestigious partnership is an extension of Chopard’s longstanding commitment to automotive sports. In 2014, Chopard became “Official Timing Partner” of Porsche Motorsport for the German racing team’s grand comeback to endurance competition. That same year, in honour of this exclusive partnership, Chopard launched a Superfast chronograph inspired by the Porsche 919 Hybrid competing in the World Endurance Championship LMP1 category.
Chopard takes great pride in its partnership with Porsche during the FIA World Endurance Championship. Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, co-president of Chopard states: “Porsche creates ultimate sports cars, successful in racing and exciting to drive on the road. Chopard shares this passion for performance and excellence. We are proud to accompany Porsche as official timing partner for their second Endurance racing season. This year, we are celebrating the long historical ambassador of Porsche and Chopard, Mr Le Mans: Jacky Ickx and the double victory of Porsche in Le Mans”
This year, Chopard unveiled a new watch, the Superfast Chrono Porsche 919 Jacky Ickx Edition, a 100-piece limited series dedicated to Jacky Ickx, a driver with an impressive track record and a longstanding ambassador of Chopard and Porsche. This model proudly bears the colours of the legendary champion and six-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Jacky Ickx: a legendary driver
Jacky Ickx is one of the greatest 20th century drivers. He has been part of the history of both companies. After starting his career on two wheels, he went on to make a major mark on the history of motor racing. As a Formula 1 driver from 1967 to 1979, he took part in 114 Grand Prix and won his first victory at the French Grand Prix in 1968, at the age of 23. Jacky Ickx is above all famous for his performances in the field of endurance races, notably at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Nicknamed “Mr. Le Mans”, he can lay claim to six victories in this legendary race, four of which were at the wheel of Porsche. He held this record for many years. He is celebrated this year through launching the new Superfast Chrono Porsche 919 Jacky Ickx Edition.
