The smell of hot tarmac and the screech of tyres hold no secrets for Tudor, which is multiplying its partnerships in the racing circuit world. In June 2011, the watchmaking company became “Timing Partner” of the Italian manufacturer of Ducati motorbikes – a commitment which can be explained by the many synergies between the two companies. A birth year in common – 1926 – together with a constant quest for performance, as well as original design and refined sports style … Tudor and Ducati share a number of common denominators. Not to mention the resistance, reliability and precision that characterise both the Ducati engines with their Desmodromic valve control system and Tudor watches, notably the resolutely sporty chronographs of the aptly named Fastrider line.

In the wake of the partnership with the Italian company, this year Tudor is moving to a new level by becoming the “Timing Partner” of the FIA World Endurance Championship. This is a natural extension of the history that has connected the brand to car racing for several decades. “Tudor is very happy to express this passion for motor sport through the endurance legend represented by the WEC (World Endurance Championship)” emphasises brand CEO Philippe Peverelli. “This technological showcase is the image of what makes us progress daily – an obsession with quality and passion for performance”. Alternating between legendary racing tracks (Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps, Le Mans, Interlagos and Fuji) and future destinations such as Austin, Shanghai or Bahrain, the WEC is likely to be an additional source of inspiration for Tudor whose timepieces maintain powerful links with the world of automobile sport – notably that of Grand Touring car races with the Grantour collection launched in 2009. The high point of this line is the Grantour Chrono Fly-Back enabling simultaneous measurement of two times. Guaranteed precision, sportiness and high-end technology…