TAG Heuer is revisiting the race that lent its name to the watch which is probably the company's most famous.
Jack Heuer came up with the idea to create a chronograph for racing drivers after the parents of famous Mexican racers Ricardo and Pedro Rodríguez told him about what was regarded as the world's most dangerous road race at the time: The original Carrera Panamericana rally in Mexico.
The original race was only held from 1950 to 1954, and the Mexican brothers met a tragic end. But the idea behind the first Carrera was sparked by the late sportsmen and bygone race era. The tribute brought Heuer fame and fortune.
This fall, TAG Heuer is launching the 255-piece Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon x Porsche Panamericana with a nod to the Porsche 550 Spyder and stand-out class winner of the Panamericana in 1953. The new skeletonized chronograph takes many stylistic cues from the racecar, dubbed the shark in a pool of perch.
The limited edition of 255 is a reference to the number "55" painted on the winning Porsche 550 Spyder. The novelty further strengthens the connection between Heuer and Porsche.
The companies announced their long-term partnership in 2021, but they already had a history of working together, including Heuer's work with Jo Siffert and the reason why half of Formula 1 wore Heuer in the late 1960s, not to mention the TAG Turbo Engine that they collaborated on in the 1980s.
The architecture of the skeleton dial for the new Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon x Porsche Panamericana is inspired by the 550 Spyder's rims, while the bright yellow accents on the hands and strap echo the number on the side of the iconic car.
Further nods to the race can be found in the design of the counters, where the chosen texture is reminiscent of asphalt. The name of the winning car is also engraved on the side of the case. The novelty comes in a steel case that measures 42mm × 15.1 mm.
The dial is protected by a Glassbox domed sapphire crystal in the style of hesalite crystal models from the 1970s. The watch dedicated to the Panamericana houses a TH20-09 movement equipped with a chronograph and a tourbillon, which provides a 65-hour power reserve.