Blancpain - The Blancpain GT Series
Blancpain's partnership with Automobili Lamborghini dates back to 2009, when the two companies first set up the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo. The following year, Blancpain became the official timekeeper of the FIA GT1 series, and in 2011 the brand launched the Blancpain Endurance Series and became an official partner in the ADAC GT Masters championship in Germany. Last year Blancpain added a partnership with the British GT Championship, further strengthening its status as a worldwide reference in the field of GT racing.
Commercial benefits
This year, Blancpain brings together the Blancpain Endurance Series with the Blancpain Sprint Series (the former FIA GT Series) under the banner of the Blancpain GT series, a move that further increases the commercial appeal of the sport. Alongside this attractive programme of racing, the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo continues on three continents - Europe, Asia and North America.
The importance of the Blancpain GT Series as an advertising platform could be seen by the unusually high percentage of supercars parked around and inside the VIP entrance to the Paul Ricard circuit in the south of France last weekend. And among the mobile hospitality suites set up by some of the teams is the joint Lamborghini and Blancpain hospitality area, which comes complete with its own Blancpain store and its in-house watchmaker.
Beyond partnership
But there is a deeper meaning to Blancpain's association with this racing series and it is one that is often overlooked. In a strategic location overlooking the start/finish line and near race control are eight timekeepers from the Swatch Group's Swiss Timing division, which provides timekeeping services for countless sports, not least for all the disciplines at the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. An audible beep from a transponder in each car is triggered every time a car crosses the finish line (which means that the timekeepers heard a total of precisely 3,282 such beeps during the three-hour race) and the time of each lap for each competitor (accurate to one thousandth of a second) is transmitted directly to race control.
Cedric Leimer, who drives for the Swiss team Autovitesse Garage Affolter, knows from bitter experience the importance of precision timekeeping in the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo. After winning the Pro-Am title in 2011 and 2012, he narrowly missed out on a third consecutive title last year in the last race of the season. His team misjudged the timing of their compulsory one-minute break during the race by a mere two-tenths of a second, which earned them a drive-through penalty that ultimately cost him the championship.
L-Evolution
Naturally, such a close relationship between Blancpain and Lamborghini requires its own special timepiece. The limited-edition L-Evolution R Chronograph Flyback Grand Date is the model that fits the bill thanks to its colour scheme of black and orange that matches that of Blancpain's racing environment. It has a lightweight case in titanium with a bezel and dial in carbon fibre, as well as carbon fibre inserts in the Alcantara strap. The racy exterior is complemented by a highly technical interior with the Blancpain calibre 68F5 self-winding fly-back chronograph movement.
This is the watch that adorns the bonnet of the Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 FLII of the Blancpain Racing team, for which the company's president Marc A. Hayek drives. This year, he will be competing in the Blancpain Sprint Series and the ADAC GT Masters together with teammate Peter Kox.
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