Richard Mille has an unimpeachable pedigree in many of the world’s most prestigious sports, but of all the brand’s competitive associations, the world of motorsports might well be closest to the brand’s heart. of course, the highest profile association today is Richard Mille’s sponsorship of the Ferrari F1 team, but it’s a long way from the oldest partnership. Since 2002, Richard Mille has been the principal partner of the Le Mans Classic — a biennial celebration of classic racing cars that made history in the greatest endurance race of all time. Now, Richard Mille honours the 12th edition of the gruelling 24-hour race with the RM 30-01 LMC Edition.

Unsurprisingly, this isn’t the first watch Richard Mille has made in support of the event; the brand debuted its first special edition in 2008, making this year’s model the 10th instalment in the series. Like its predecessors, this RM 30-01 LMC prominently features the colours of the Le Mans Classic —  green and white. In addition, the case is comprised of a slab of green quartz TPT sandwiched between titanium bezels. There are plenty of orange highlights on the scene, too — the rubber-clad oversized crown and alternating hour markers are the most prominent touches. The racing notes are also in evidence on other elements of the open-worked dial, the chequered flag pattern around the big date display and a skeletonised design that evokes the outline of the 13.6 km Sarthe circuit, where the Le Mans Classic takes place. In addition to the visual nods to the race, there are some mechanical additions too. The Calibre RMAR2 has been specially modified here to include a 24-hour counter, just in case the wearer happens to be timing the endurance event. On top of this, there are the familiar bells and whistles that come with Richard Mille, and by bells and whistles, we specifically mean the ingenious clutch engagement indicator, which lets the wearer know is automatic winding is engaged or not (not that it’s too much of an issue with the 55-hour power reserve), and the crown-based function selector. Finally, this RM 30-01 LMC comes with a sporty vented green rubber strap.

Le Mans holds a place in the heart of motorsports lovers the world over as one of the most legendary races of all time, and Richard Mille is widely regarded as one of the greatest watchmakers of the twenty-first century, making this enduring partnership a worthy one indeed.

Tech Specs: Richard Mille RM 30-01 LMC

Movement: Calibre RMAR2, automatic, 55 hours of power reserve
Functions:Hours, minutes, seconds, oversize date, function selector, clutch engagement and power reserve indicator
Case:Titanium and Quartz TPT, 42 x 14.15mm
Dial: Open
Strap: Green rubber
Availability: Limited edition of 150 pieces