A record-breaking race was the 2023 Le Mans Classic with 800 competing cars, 900 drivers, 9,200 club vehicles and 235,000 spectators. These figures consolidate the Le Mans Classic’s position as the world’s largest classic car event.
In a year devoted to celebrating the centenary of the Le Mans 24-hour race, this year’s Le Mans Classic embodied a passion for vintage motorsports like never before. The entire weekend dedicated to this 11th edition treated spectators to the visual and acoustic thrills of unique engines. 235,000 people —a record number— watched the sparring matches between vintage speedsters divided into six categories according to their age. The races kicked off by two Richard Mille partners: Rafael Nadal and Didier Drogba.
Many other races supplemented the program, offering an opportunity for some legendary Group C cars to relive their former glory and for Porches to battle it out amongst themselves like in the heyday of endurance racing. The enthusiasm aroused by this historic year was also demonstrated by the presence of around 70 Bentleys on the track. The sight of these venerable British cars lined up in position along the pit straight before making an old-school ‘Le Mans style’ start was one of the highlights of this year’s event, as was the display of Lola T70s and Ford GT40s that reigned supreme in their category.
What other event enables you to admire true legends like the Porsche 917, the Ferrari 250 LM or the Alpine A442 in action all at the same time and place, alongside curiosities such as the aptly named 1950 Cadillac Monster, the 1968 Howmet powered by a helicopter turbine or the 1976 Ford Gran Torino straight from Nascar?
A faithful partner of the Le Mans Classic since it began in 2002, Richard Mille was keen to pay tribute to this wonderful event by revealing a particularly spectacular model this year adorned in the colors of this historical event.
During the 2023 Le Mans Classic, Richard Mille officially presented the new RM 72-01 Le Mans Classic in a limited edition of 150 pieces. Fashioned in green and white Quartz TPT, the watch showcases a dial withmultiple indicators. For the first time, the in-house calibre powering this watch features a flyback chronograph function. Highlighted in red, the number 16 on the hour counter is, of course, a nod to the traditional start time of the legendary Le Mans race. The watch is priced at $335,000 USD.
Spectators will have to wait another two years before witnessing the start of the next Le Mans Classic, which has become the world’s largest gathering of vintage cars and an unmissable event in the classic car racing calendar.
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