Style Edit: Richard Mille celebrates the 24 Hours of Le Mans’ centenary year with a new limited-edition timepiece, RM 72-01 Le Mans Classic, continuing their partnership since its inception in 2002

The world’s favourite endurance sports car race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, celebrates its centenary year in 2023.

The anniversary was celebrated not just at the race itself, but also at its retro companion event the Le Mans Classic, in addition to a new timepiece from the Swiss luxury watch brand that has partnered with the Le Mans Classic since its inception in 2002, Richard Mille.

This was the 11th edition of the Le Mans Classic, which takes place on the same legendary Circuit de la Sarthe as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but features a range of vintage vehicles. Some 800 racing cars took part this year, divided into six classes covering eras from 1923 to 1981.

Beyond the racetrack, there were also a further 8,500 classic cars on display in the general enclosure as well as a special exhibition that brought together 90 historically significant cars that were sourced from museums and private collections around the world. They had either won the race or played a role in the history of Le Mans Classic, including 24 that competed in the very first edition.

With 150 exhibitors and 1,000 drivers from 30 countries, the event drew an astonishing 235,000 visitors across its four days.

Richard Mille has partnered with this prestigious gathering since the start, as part of the company’s passionate commitment to the world of motorsport, which perfectly mirrors its own pursuit of technical excellence and perpetual innovation, leading to initiatives like partnering with the Ferrari racing team and running its own Richard Mille team in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.