Style Edit: The Richard Mille RM 72-01 Le Mans Classic is the Swiss luxury watchmaker’s celebration of the premium motorsport event – and a first for the maison is in this special timepiece too

Nov 28 , 2023

Richard Mille launched the RM 72-01 to mark the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Photos: Handout

Richard Mille, an ardent supporter of motorsport, marked the 100th anniversary of 24 Hours of Le Mans this year with the RM 72-01 Le Mans Classic watch

Limited to 150 pieces, the timepiece uses grade 5 titanium for its dial, baseplate and bridges, and has a 50-hour power reserve whether its flyback chronograph is in use or not

In the world of endurance racing, one event stands head and shoulders above all the others: the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. The ultimate test of a driver’s mettle and the most prestigious race in the sport, it has seen the world’s leading competitors battle it out on the challenging 13.6km Circuit de la Sarthe in northwestern France annually since 1923.

Richard Mille has been the main sponsor of the Le Mans Classic since it started

In 2002, the race was joined by another spectacular motorsport event, the biennial Le Mans Classic, in which a magnificent line-up of classic vintage cars, divided into different classes, race to the chequered flag on the same circuit. Ever since the race was introduced, Swiss luxury watchmaker Richard Mille, an ardent supporter of motorsport at all levels, has been there as its main sponsor.

For each of the races since 2008, Richard Mille has introduced a very special new watch to mark the occasion. And this year, to mark the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, it unveiled a very special timepiece: the RM 72-01 Le Mans Classic.

The Richard Mille RM72-01 Le Mans Classic Edition is the Swiss watchmaker’s first flyback chronograph

The 2023 Le Mans Classic attracted a staggering 235,000 visitors to the Circuit de la Sarthe. They took in thrilling races that involved about 800 cars, divided into six grids representing eras from 1923 to 1981 – in total, 1,000 drivers from 30 countries competed at the event. Those cars were joined by another 8,500 vehicles in the general enclosure, plus 150 exhibitors, in addition to a special exhibition featuring 90 of the most notable cars from the history of the 24-hour race.

Nighttime pit stops at the Richard Mille Le Mans Classic 2023

The watch introduced to celebrate the race, the RM 72-01 Le Mans Classic, is Richard Mille’s first flyback chronograph, featuring a new patented design featuring oscillating pinions.

The chronograph’s hour and minute counters are at 5 o’clock and 2 o’clock respectively, accompanied by a small seconds at 9 o’clock and a date indication at 7 o’clock. The dial on which they appear is made of grade 5 titanium, as are the CRMC1 self-winding movement’s baseplate and bridges. Limited to 150 pieces, the watch comes with a 50-hour power reserve, whether the chronograph is in use or not.