WHEN ICONS RACE TOGETHER
WHEN ICONS RACE TOGETHER
TAG Heuer and Porsche celebrate their shared motorsport legacy with a limited-edition timepiece inspired by the first rally success of the Porsche 911 at the Monte Carlo Rally.
Los Angeles, LVMH Watch Week 2025 – January 21, 2025:
In the high-stakes world of motorsport and fine watchmaking, few partnerships carry the weight and prestige of the collaboration between Swiss luxury watchmaker TAG Heuer and iconic sports car manufacturer Porsche. In the fifth year of this partnership, comes the release of the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye. A limited-edition timepiece honoring the unique legacies of the two maisons, combining Porsche’s indomitable 911 with TAG Heuer’s renowned expertise in precision chronographs. These new timepieces are inspired by historic Heuer dashboard times that were critical to success for competitors in the historic Monte Carlo Rally, one of the most prestigious and challenging events in the world of motorsport.
The timepiece comes in two variations: one in steel, and one in 18K 3N solid yellow gold. The steel piece is limited to 911 pieces, a special nod to the Porsche 911, a car that has forever changed the face of motorsport. The yellow gold version, for its part, is limited to 11 pieces
The Monte Carlo Rally and the Porsche 911
This creation taps into the rich history shared by Porsche and TAG Heuer, harking back to a pivotal chapter: the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally. During this event, Porsche’s newly introduced 911 made its competitive debut. The chosen car was a Porsche 911 with starting number “147”, based on a lightly modified road car, not primarily destined for competitive racing. Number “147” performed beyond all expectations, finishing an impressive fifth overall and second in its class. This was no small feat. The roads were treacherous—snow- covered with limited visibility—testing both the car’s performance and the precision of the timekeeping instruments, which came from non-other than Heuer, the predecessor of TAG Heuer.
Founded in 1911, the Monte Carlo Rally was renowned as one of the most difficult races in the world, testing both the endurance of drivers and the capability of their machines. The unpredictable and harsh winter conditions and challenging roads of the Alps made it a proving ground for automotive excellence. In 1965, the Porsche 911 “147” secured its place in history, and the launch of the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye pays homage to the pioneering spirit that ensured its success.
Piloting the 911 were two pivotal protagonists in Porsche`s history: Herbert Linge, one of the first employees at Porsche in Stuttgart, an exceptional engineer, mechanic and development driver whose racing highlights track those of Porsche in its early days. He was awarded the Mexican Order of Merit for three consecutive class victories from 1952 to 1954 as a co-driving mechanic in the Carrera Panamericana, and further had class wins in the Targa Florio, the Mille Miglia and 11 starts at the 24 Hours of Le Mans to his name. A noteworthy anecdote that connects his personal story with that of Heuer, was his role as impromptu camera car driver, as well as stunt driver, on the Steve McQueen film “Le Mans” – in a Porsche 908 and a 917, respectively. Linge recalled, “Steve couldn’t take part in the real race himself for insurance reasons and didn’t have a car that complied with the official regulations. But he wanted the real pictures for his film – and I got them for him with the 908.”
The co-driver, and no less instrumental in Porsche’s history, was Peter Falk Porsche Director Racing Vehicle Development and engineer whose total career at Porsche AG lasted more than 30 years. He joined Porsche in 1959 and was then one of only a handful of employees in the test-driving department, by 1964 he started working in pre-series and racing support, where he got the 911 on the track, among others. Falk would later develop an in-car intercom system, but this did not yet exist in 1965. So, it took a certain pragmatism to overcome all the unexpected challenges of a grueling rally – including – how to communicate in a loud race car while reading out important directions? Peter Falk recalled the practical solution in 1965, “I spoke into a thick plastic tube that went straight into Herbert’s helmet. This speaking tube worked perfectly.” This pioneering spirit coupled with high-accuracy timekeeping equipment, exceptionally engineered automotive technology and some practical solutions, stood Herbert Linge and Peter Falk in good stead. Of 237 starters in the 1965 iteration of the Monte Carlo rally, only 22 arrived in the South of France. Linge and Falk were among them.
Their success with the 911 in such a brutal competition laid the foundation for Porsche’s lasting legacy in rallying, a history that would see the 911 dominate in subsequent years.
A Historic Bond
The shared motorsport heritage between TAG Heuer and Porsche has deep roots, and in Heuer`s case dates backover a century to early innovations in timekeeping for automobiles. As far back as 1911, Heuer created the “Time of Trip,” the first dashboard-mounted chronograph, evolving into the Autavia dashboard timer by 1933. These devices became critical tools in prestigious racing events like the 24H of Le Mans and the Monte Carlo Rally, and their precision made them indispensable in amateur and professional motorsport events alike.
One historic example of this shared heritage came during the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally, when the Porsches 911 “147” driven by Linge and Falk, relied on Heuer’s Rally Master set to navigate the highly demanding course. These timekeeping tools were seen as invaluable, serving as a reliable reference point for pilots in low-visibility conditions. As Peter Falk later recalled, during some of the snowstorms the two could only use a compass and their timing equipment to navigate. The 1965 edition marked the 911’s first competitive appearance, paving the road for Porsche’s future triumphs in rallying, including outright victories of the Monte Carlo Rally in 1968, 1969, and 1970, where Heuer`s dashboard timers featured frequently among the most competitive entrants.
As rallying evolved, so did Porsche’s participation, extending beyond Monte Carlo to legendary races like the East African Safari Rally and the Rallye Paris-Dakar, solidifying the 911 as a motorsport legend. TAG Heuer’s influence in motorsport timing also expanded, with dashboard chronographs like the Monte Carlo from the Auto Rally collection becoming indispensable for rally drivers, offering precision that was essential for competing successfully at the pinnacle of motorsport.
And Here We Are
The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye watch carries forward this pioneering spirit while introducing modern advancements. The watch is powered by the in-house TH20-08 Chronosprint movement, a chronograph that offers an impressive 80-hour power reserve. The chronograph module of the TH20-08 is unique to the Porsche partnership, with its two snail-shaped wheels resulting in the central seconds hand completing the first 15 seconds of every stopped minute at an accelerated pace, before slowing to complete the loop of the minute perfectly. A Porsche steering wheel-shaped rotor, visible through the sapphire glass caseback, forms another striking connection between the timepiece and the car’s engineering heritage.
The design of the watch is equally captivating, drawing inspiration from the Heuer dashboard timer present in the Porsche 911 “147” in 1965 and echoing elements of early Porsche dashboards. The black dial, a nod to the Heuer Master Time / Monte Carlo stopwatches from 1965, enhances legibility with its strong contrast and legibility, an essential element in the context of racing in low visibility conditions. Beige markings reference the original car’s steering wheel, while the dial’s finish evokes the shimmering effect of its bodywork, adding a refined touch.
The red lines on the right side of the flange are a graphical representation of speed, paying homage to the 0 to 100 km/h sprint achieved by the 1965 Porsche 911 “147” during the Monte Carlo Rally, calculated acceleration of 8.4 seconds—an improvement over the initial 1963 901’s time of 9.1 seconds. Intricate detailing on the dial brings the watch full circle. The azuré subdials, with contrasting silver rings, add visual depth. The TAG Heuer Carrera double glassbox construction on both the front and back of the timepiece, allows for an uninterrupted view of the movement along with improving its ergonomic profile, ensuring comfort and seamless wearability. The front sapphire dome elegantly frames the dial, while the caseback reveals the Porsche-inspired rotor.
Both steel and gold versions of the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye express this commitment to excellence. The steel version comes with a classic H-shaped bracelet and an additional black perforated leather strap with beige stitching, offering a versatile look for any occasion. The gold version takes luxury to another level, made from 18K 3N solid yellow gold and paired with a black perforated leather strap with beige stitching and an additional light brown perforated calfskin strap, allowing for personalization.
From the timepiece to the box
Made from lacquered wood and finished in the same ruby red as the original Porsche 911 “147”, the packaging brings an added symbolic nod to the release. Inside, the watch rests on a perforated cushion, a subtle link to the perforated leather used in the straps. The packaging for the steel version features silver accents, while the gold edition has golden detailing. Each box also includes a miniature model of the exact Porsche 911 “147” which conquered the trials the Monte Carlo Rally threw at the Porsche team, further connecting the timepiece to the iconic car.
The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye pushes the limits of watchmaking while echoing meaningful details from automotive design, continuing a legacy built on speed, precision, and craftsmanship for TAG Heuer and Porsche. This timepiece tells a story that extends far beyond its mechanics, celebrating performance, a shared passion for excellence, and a tribute to history.
About TAG Heuer
TAG Heuer, founded in 1860 by Edouard Heuer in the Jura Mountains of Switzerland, is a luxury watch brand that is part of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (“LVMH”), the world’s leading luxury group. Based in La Chaux- de-Fonds, Switzerland, and with four production sites, TAG Heuer has 1,900 employees and is active in 139 countries. TAG Heuer products are available online at www.tagheuer.com for select countries and in 260 boutiques and 2,300 points of sale worldwide. The company is headed up by Antoine Pin, CEO of TAG Heuer.
For 164 years, TAG Heuer has demonstrated pure avant-garde watchmaking spirit and a commitment to innovation with revolutionary technologies that have included the oscillating pinion for mechanical stopwatches in 1887, the Mikrograph in 1916, the first automatic-winding chronograph movement – Calibre 11 – in 1969, and the first luxury smartwatch in 2015. Today, the brand’s core collection consists of three iconic families designed by Jack Heuer – TAG Heuer Carrera, Monaco, and Autavia – and is rounded out with the contemporary TAG Heuer Link, Aquaracer, Formula 1, and Connected lines.
Embodying TAG Heuer’s motto, “Don’t Crack Under Pressure,” are prominent partnerships and brand ambassadors that express the brand’s passion for action and high performance.
